Stress–Strain Relationship of Unconfined RPC Reinforced with Steel Fibers under Compression

Abstract

In this paper, the feasibility of applying the existing empirical models on reactive powder concrete (RPC) reinforced with different types of steel fiber under compression was assessed. The behavior of RPC reinforced with different types of steel fibers of different geometry and volume content was highlighted. The outcomes show that the existing models overestimate the strain at peak stress, modulus of elasticity, and the ascending and descending branches of the stress-strain curve. Also, the influence of different types of steel fibers of different geometry and volume content has not been properly presented in the existing models. As such, an empirical model to predict the complete stress-strain curve of RPC reinforced with different types of steel fibers of different geometry and volume content of strengths ranging from 95 to 13 MPa is proposed. The results obtained from the proposed model were verified with the experimental results of RPC obtained in the literature. The proposed empirical model has been found to be in very good agreement with the stress-strain curves that were obtained experimentally.