Reorientation of short steel fibres during the flow of self-compacting concrete mix and determination of the fibre orientation factor

• Published in: Cement and concrete research Vol. 56; pp. 112 - 120
• Main Authors: Deeb, R., Karihaloo, B.L., Kulasegaram, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3D simulation; Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Concretes. Mortars. Grouts; Exact sciences and technology; Fiber orientation; Fibre orientation; Fibre orientation factor; Fibres; Materials; Orientation; Other special applications (sand concrete, roller compacted concrete, heavy concrete, architectural concrete, etc.); Probability density functions; Self-compacting concrete; Simulation; Smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH); Steel fibers; Structural analysis. Stresses; Three dimensional; Fibre orientation; Self-compacting concrete; Smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH); Fibre orientation factor; 3D simulation; Slump test; Construction materials; Concrete mix design; Modeling; Self compacting concrete; Three dimensional model; Probability density function; Steel fiber; Fiber orientation; Simulation model
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2013.10.002
• ISSN: 0008-8846

A simple method has been developed to assess the orientation and distribution of short steel fibres in self-compacting concrete mixes during flow. The flow of self-compacting fibre reinforced concrete has been simulated using three-dimensional Lagrangian smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) which is simpler and more appropriate to use to simulate the flow and to monitor the distribution of fibres and their orientation during the flow. A probability density function (PDF) has been introduced to represent the fibre orientation variables in three dimensions. Moreover, the orientation variables of each individual fibre in an arbitrary two dimensional cross-section have been calculated using the geometrical data obtained from the three dimensional simulations. From these a new definition of the fibre orientation factor has been introduced and a method proposed for its determination from the fibre orientations monitored during the simulations. It is shown that this new definition gives results that are consistent with the expected reorientation of fibres towards the principal direction of flow. A method has also been proposed for its determination from image analysis on cut sections. •A simple method to assess orientation of steel fibres in SCC mixes during flow.•Fibre orientation variables in 3D represented by a probability density function.•Orientation of each fibre in an arbitrary 2D cross-section calculated using 3D data.•A new fibre orientation factor (FOF) introduced using 3D simulation data.•A method proposed for determining FOF from image analysis on cut sections.