Strength and permeability of steel fibre reinforced grouts

✍ Scribed by M.L. Berndt

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 478 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0950-0618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.02.011

✦ Synopsis

The feasibility of using steel fibres to improve the tensile strength and durability of cement-sand grout was investigated. Initial tests focused on achieving pumpable grout mixes and 13 mm round steel fibres with a diameter of 0.16 mm were found to be compatible with a conventional grout paddle mixer and piston pump. Subsequently, grouts with 0.5% and 1% fibre volume fraction were subjected to compressive and splitting tensile strength tests, coefficient of permeability tests and wet-dry cycles. The effect of partial cement replacement with silica fume and blast furnace slag was also investigated. It was found that steel fibres were beneficial for short-and long-term tensile strength. Coefficient of permeability was not adversely affected by addition of fibres. Resistance to microcracking and increase in permeability after wet-dry cycles was also improved by steel fibres. Partial replacement of cement with blast furnace slag resulted in enhanced mechanical properties, whereas the results for silica fume were mixed.