Strength and toughness properties of steel fibre reinforced concrete under repetitive impact

This paper investigates the compression strength and the energy absorption of steel fibre reinforced concrete under repetitive impact loadings. Cylindrical concrete specimens are fabricated with 0, 1·5 and 3·0% fibre volume fractions. For each fibre volume fraction, stress–strain curves are measured using split Hopkinson pressure bar tests. Also, post-test photographs are taken for each specimen after each impact. The data collected are used to evaluate the energy absorption and the damage evolution of concrete in compression. The results indicate that damage increases and strength decreases with the increase of impact times. Fibrous concrete is markedly superior to plain concrete in resisting dynamic failure. Furthermore, both impact velocity and fibre volume fraction exert a significant influence on the dynamic response of concrete.