Dynamic compressive behavior of steel fiber synergistically reinforced cellular concrete under high strain-rate loading

To better understand the reinforcement and toughness effects of steel fibers, a 75-mm split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) device was used to test the uniaxial dynamic compression properties of steel fiber synergistically reinforced cellular concrete (SFSRCC) under high strain rates. The dynamic compression performance characteristics of the SFSRCC, including the stress-strain curve, dynamic strength, impact toughness and failure mode, were analyzed. The results showed that the dynamic strength, peak strain and impact toughness of SFSRCC increase with increasing strain rate. Compared with that of cellular concrete (SAP10S0), a higher steel fiber volume ratio corresponded to a greater enhancement in the dynamic performance characteristic indices of the SFRCC. The maximum increases were 138.4%, 180.0% and 280.0% for the DIF, peak strain, and impact toughness, respectively. The damage degree of the SFSRCC specimen decreased with increasing fiber content, and a larger area of residual "core retention" was observed, which indicated that the impact resistance of the SFSRCC with a high fiber content was improved. An empirical formula that can accurately characterize the dynamic strength increase factor (DIF) of SFSRCC with high strain rates was proposed, and the prediction results obtained by using the DIF of the SFSRCC were highly consistent with the test results, which confirmed its effectiveness. To further quantify the strain rate enhancement effect and fiber content for the reinforcement and toughening ability of SFSRCC, the relationships between the peak strength/peak strain/impact toughness and strain rate and between the DIF increment ratio/strain energy density increment ratio and fiber volume fraction were determined. In conclusion, the dynamic compression performance characteristics of SFSRCC can be enhanced by incorporating an appropriate quantity of steel fibers with a dynamic impact load.