The influence of steel fibers on the dynamic response of self-compacting concrete

Concrete subjected to high strain rates behaves notably differently in comparison to quasi-static conditions, which can be affected by the addition of steel fibers. The influence of steel fibers on the dynamic compressive behavior of self-compacting concrete (SCC) was studied experimentally using Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) tests. The investigations were performed in a range of quasi-static rates up to dynamic strain rates of 462 1/s. The effect of steel fibers on the stress-strain diagram, dynamic increase factor (DIF) and failure pattern of SCC conducted under high strain rates was analyzed. The experimental results presented in this paper and the ones from recent works of other authors indicate that application of steel fibers reduces the strain-rate sensitivity of different concretes and has a beneficial effect on the specimen failure pattern. Moreover, the conducted SHPB tests show an important role of fibers in reduction of the strain rates reached in the specimen under the same pressure level in comparison to plain concrete specimens.