Effect of combination of steel fiber and MgO-type expansive agent on properties of concrete

The effect of combination of steel fiber and MgO-type expansive agent (MEA) on strength, air-permeability and porosity of concrete was investigated. The porosity and air-permeability of concrete were determined by method of evaporated water and Torrent permeability tester, respectively. Pore structures of mortars in concrete were analyzed using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Interfacial structures between steel fibers and matrix were examined by use of optical microscope. The experimental results show that improvement of pore structures of mortar and fiber-matrix interfacial structure in concrete by combination of steel fiber and MEA may remarkably increase properties of concrete. In comparison with plain concrete, compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of steel fiber reinforced expansive concrete increased by 15.3% and 38.1%, permeability coefficient Kt, penetration depth L and porosity of concrete decreased by 41.1%, 21.3% and 13.1% at 28 days, respectively.