Exploring the behavior and quality control of steel fiber reinforced concrete through 3-point bending test and Montevideo test

Abstract

Residual tensile strength plays a critical role in the design of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) elements. It is imperative to verify and control the mechanical properties through experimental tests. This study investigates an alternative test method, known as the Montevideo (MVD) test, by assessing SFRC properties with different fiber contents (0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0%). The experimental program included three key aspects: i) determination of residual tensile loads and strength through the three-point bending (3PBT) test presented by NBR 16940/EN 14651; ii) determination of the residual tensile loads through the MVD test, correlatable with 3PBT results; iii) assessment of concrete in different ages: 28 days and 100 days. The results reveal a correlation factor (kMVD) that translates MVD test loads into values specified by NBR 16940/EN 14651, with a dependence on fiber content.