Permeability of Cracked Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

This research explores the relationship between permeability and crack width in cracked, steel fiber-reinforced concrete. In addition, it inspects the influence of steel fiber reinforcement on concrete permeability. The feedback-controlled splitting tension test (also known as the Brazilian test) is used to induce cracks of up to 500 μm (0.02 in.) in concrete specimens without reinforcement, and with steel fiber reinforcement volumes of both 0.5 and 1%. The cracks relax after induced cracking. The steel fibers decrease the permeability of specimens with relaxed cracks larger than 100 μm.