A method for optimal design of steel fiber reinforced concrete composition

Existing design approaches for steel fiber reinforced concrete composition practically do not consider the interaction between the concrete components. It decreases the design efficiency and accuracy. The paper deals with methodology for design of optimal steel fibered fine-grained concrete composition based on stiff mixtures. Such concrete is used for production of thin walled precise elements. The current investigation enables to find the influence of the main factors (water-cement ratio, fiber content, fineness and quantity of sand) on the concrete mixture stiffness, compressive and flexural strength of concrete. The study has also enabled to obtain corresponding mathematical models of concrete properties. Based on the models a methodology for design of steel fibered concrete was developed and appropriate nomograms were prepared. The proposed methodology allows obtaining of optimal steel fibered fine-grained concrete composition, taking into account the required flexural strength of concrete, sand fineness and concrete mixture workability.