Diagnosis of the Effect of Steel Fiber on the Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortars

Abstract

The reinforcement of cement-based materials by fibers has currently become an interesting solution in order to improve their qualities and their structural resistance. In fact, there are several types of fibers, differing according to their origins, such as polymer, metallic or ceramics. This study aims to examine in particular, the effect of the addition of steel (metallic) fibers on the mechanical properties of cement-based mortars. For this, an experimental approach described in this work was followed in order to achieve this objective. The fibers were introduced into the mixture during mixing with varying percentages from 0.4 to 3% of the cement mass, and the mechanical strengths (Tensile and compressive) were measured. The results showed that the introduction of steel fibers into a mortar gives compressive and tensile strength results higher than those of control mortars, and that the best percentages in terms of resistance and economy are between 0, 7 and 1.9% of the mass of cement. Indeed, we recorded an increase in compressive strength ranging from 15% to 54% (up to approximately 70 MPa) and an increase in tensile strength ranging from 29 to 57% (up to approximately 10 MPa). The addition of fiber therefore makes it possible to increase the resistance of the mortar specimens and the appearance of cracks without rupture or destruction in the case of the bending test in comparison with ordinary mortars specimens