A Statistical Model of Fibre Distribution in a Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete

The aim of the research was to create a model of steel fibre distribution in a Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete space using statistical probability means. The model was created in order to better understand the behaviour of the composite under operating conditions. Four statistical distributions (Beta, Kumaraswamy, Three Parameter Beta and Generalised Transmuted Kumaraswamy) were examined to find the distribution that best described fibre settling phenomenon caused by manufacturing process conditions. In the next stage the chosen statistical distribution was adapted to create the model of steel fibre distribution in a Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete space. The model took into account technological conditions such as vibrating time and properties such as consistency of the tested concrete. The model showed a good agreement with the real fibre distribution.

Fibre Alignment and Void Assessment in Thermoplastic Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers Manufactured by Automated Tape Placement

Automated Tape Placement (ATP) technology is one of the processes that is used for the production of the thermoplastic composite materials. The ATP process is complex, requiring multiple melting/crystallization cycles. In the current paper, laser-assisted ATP was used to manufacture two thermoplastic composites (IM7/PEEK and AS4/PA12). Those specimens were compared to specimens that were made of thermoset polymeric composites (IM7/8552) manufactured while using a standard autoclave cycle. In order assess the quality, void content, fibre distribution, and fibre misalignment were measured. After manufacturing, specimens from the three materials were assessed using optical microscopy and computed tomography (CT) scans. The results showed that, as compared to the thermoset composites, thermoplastics that are manufactured by the ATP have a higher amount of voids. On the other hand, manufacturing using the ATP showed an improvement in both the fibre distribution inside the matrix and the fibre misalignment.

Characterization tests for predicting the mechanical performance of SFRC floors: identification of fibre distribution and orientation effects

In the context of the evaluation of the load-bearing capacity of a steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) elevated slab recently built in northern Italy, this paper presents the study addressing the effects of fibre distribution and orientation. An extensive experimental programme was carried out in a collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The programme included mechanical tests on four shallow beams and six notched standard beams. Additionally, uniaxial tensile tests (UTTs), double edge wedge splitting tests (DEWSTs) and double punching tests (DPTs) on 192 drilled core samples extracted from the shallow beams were performed. Inductive tests, measuring the self-induction change that occurs when a SFRC sample is placed inside a coil, were performed on all samples subjected to DPTs to assess fibre distribution. This paper compares direct and indirect tensile tests for the definition of the FRC post-cracking constitutive law, highlighting advantages and disadvantages of each test type. A comparison between standard and non-standard mechanical tests is also presented. Mechanical and non-destructive tests on drilled core samples extracted in different directions and at different locations have allowed the evaluation of the effects of fibre distribution and fibre orientation which provide an estimation of the possibility of using these tests as simplified tests for production control.

Fibre Distribution Characterization of Ultra-High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) Plates Using Magnetic Probes

Ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) is an innovative cement-based engineering material. The mechanical properties of UHPFRC not only depend on the properties of the concrete matrix and fibres, but also depend on the interaction between these two components. The fibre distribution is affected by many factors and previous researchers had developed different approaches to test the fibre distribution. This research adopted the non-destructive C-shape ferromagnetic probe inductive test and investigated the straight steel fibre distribution of the UHPFRC plate. A simplified characterization equation is introduced with an attenuation factor to consider the different plate thicknesses. The effective testing depth of this probe was tested to be 24 mm. By applying this method, fibre volume content and the fibre orientation angle can be calibrated for the entire plate. The fibre volume content generally fulfilled the design requirement. The fibre orientation angle followed a normal distribution, with a mean value of 45.60°. By testing small flexural specimens cut from the plates, it was found out that the mechanical performance (peak flexural strength) correlates with the product of fibre volume content and cosine fibre orientation angle.