Effect of Silica Fume and Granite Powder on the Ratio of Mode II to Mode I Fracture Energies of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

The paper presents the results of an experimental investigation which assesses the effect of silica fume and also granite powder on fracture of steel fiber reinforced concrete under Mode I and Mode II loadings. Tests have been conducted on new notched beam specimens under pure shear (proposed in earlier paper of the authors). The test specimens made from concretes in which partial cement replacement (10%) by (1) silica fume and (2) granite powder were used. The shear fracture energy and flexure fracture energy were calculated and an attempt has been made to know the ratio of Mode II to Mode I fracture energy. With the silica fume, increase in the values of mechanical and fracture properties was observed whereas with granite powder decrease in all the values was found.

Keywords: Fiber reinforced concrete, silica fume, granite powder, mode I failure, mode II failure and fracture toughness