Grey Correlation Analysis of the Durability of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete under Environmental Action

• Published in: Materials Vol. 15; no. 14; p. 4748
• Main Authors: Ji, Yongcheng, Xu, Wenwen, Sun, Yichen, Ma, Yulong, He, Qiulin, Xing, Zhiqiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 06-07-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Bearing capacity; Caustic soda; Cement; Composite materials; Compressive strength; Concrete mixing; Construction; Correlation analysis; Corrosion; Curing; Deterioration; Durability; environmental effects; Experiments; Failure mechanisms; Freeze thaw cycles; freeze-thaw cycle; grey correlation degree; Laboratory tests; Mechanical properties; mechanics performance; Metal fatigue; micro-structure; Performance degradation; Performance prediction; Reinforced concrete; Reinforcing steels; Service life; Sodium; Sodium chloride; Sodium hydroxide; Sodium sulfate; Steel fiber reinforced concretes; steel fiber-reinforced concrete; Steel fibers; Sulfuric acid; China
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma15144748

The interface performance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) is a critical factor in determining mechanical properties and durability. The degradation of the concrete matrix and micro-structure interface is caused by environmental erosion, which shortens the service life of the structure design. Considering different volume contents of steel fiber (0%, 1%, 2%), the failure mechanism of SFRC under different environmental erosion conditions was studied through a laboratory test scheme. A total of six environmental factors are selected, including water, sodium chloride solution, sodium sulfate solution, dilute sulfuric acid solution, sodium hydroxide solution, and a freeze-thaw cycle. When subjected to different erosion concentrations and periods, micro-structure and axial bearing capacity deterioration laws are compared and analyzed. A durability equation related to fiber mixture ratio and strength is presented based on the experimental data and the numerical simulation method. The influence of different environments on steel fiber-reinforced concrete is analyzed, and the grey correlation degree of axial compressive strength is analyzed. The experimental results show that steel fiber can effectively improve the concrete axial bearing capacity, but different responses are observed under the various erosion conditions. A freeze-thaw cycle environment has the most significant impact on the axial compressive strength of concrete, followed by the sulfuric acid environment, and other environments have a weaker impact. The research results will provide a theoretical basis for predicting the performance deterioration of SFRC concerning other erosion conditions and periods.