FREEZE-THAW RESISTANCE OF SLURRY INFILTRATED FIBER CONCRETE (SIFCON)

to form a very dense network of fibers. The network is then infiltrated by a fine liquid cement-based slurry or mortar. The steel fiber content can be as high as 25% by volume. This percentage usually does not exceed 2% in normal fiber reinforced concrete (FRC). Due to high fiber content, SIFCON demonstrates superior mechanical properties in the areas of both strength and ductility. Most of previous research work on SIFCON has focused only on investigating the mechanical properties of this material. Studies carried out in the field of durability of SIFCON are quite limited.In view of the above, this study investigates one of the various durability aspects of SIFCON, which is its resistance to repetitive freezing and thawing cycles. The investigation included studying the following effects on durability of SIFCON: matrix type (slurry or mortar), fiber content, steel fiber geometrical shape. The results showed that the resistance of different SIFCON matrices to rapid freezing and thawing was quite promising, when compared to low-permeability control concrete. After 300 cycles of freezing at -10°C and thawing at 50°C, the weight losses were well below 1 %, and the drop in relative dynamic modulus of elasticity did not exceed 10% of the initial values. Mortar SIFCON showed better performance than slurry SIFCON.

کلیدواژه ها:

Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete (SIFCON) ، Freezing and Thawing ، Weight Loss ، Relative Dynamic Modulus of Elasticity