Flexural behaviour of latex modified steel fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract

The flexural behaviour of plain concrete (PC), latex modified concrete (LMC) and latex modified steel fiber reinforced concrete (LMSFC) beams are studied under monotonic third point loading till ultimate stages. All the three types of concretes are designed for M-30 grade concrete. In LMC styrene butadiene latex 10% of cement weight is used. LMSFC concrete crimped steel fiber of aspect ratio of 16.67 at 1% of volume of concrete and SBR latex equal to 10% weight of cement are incorporated. An experimental program consisting of tests on latex modified concrete, latex modified steel fiber reinforced concrete and plain reinforced concrete are conducted under flexural loading. Beams are reinforced with bottom longitudinal steel bars and transverse steel stirrups. Tests on PC, LMC and LMSFC beam specimens have been conducted to establish load-deflection curves. The various parameters, such as stress-strain variation, first crack load, ultimate load, deflection ductility and strain variation along the depth of the beams  have been carried out and a quantitative comparison are made at various stages of loading. It is found from this study that the neglect of fiber and latex contribution may considerably underestimate the flexural capacity of latex modified fiber-reinforced concrete beams. The present study also indicates that the ductility in LMC and LMSFC is increased by 45.94% and 50.27% respectively as compared to PC beams.