Physical-mechanical properties of steel fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete containing natural perlite addition

Abstract

The aim of this work is to highlight the effect of the Algerian natural perlite used as fillers addition on the workability and physical-mechanical properties of metallic fibre self-compacting concrete (SCC). Effect of the perlite is compared to that of silica fume fillers to replace limestone fillers. One control concrete without fibres containing limestone fillers, two concretes with silica fume or perlite fillers and six SCCs were elaborated with limestone, perlite and silica fume fillers separately containing 1% vol. of steel long wavy or short hooked fibres. Several tests were conducted for evaluating the workability properties in the fresh state, the density, mechanical strengths and elastic modulus in the hardened state. The results show the beneficial effect of the use of perlite as fillers. Workability properties decrease slightly but an increase of mechanical strengths and elastic modulus is much more marked with the use of the steel hooked fibres.