BUDAPEST UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS

Department of Mechanics, Materials and Structures

Laboratory of Materials and Structures

EUROPEAN FIBRES
FRC beam test series
SYNTHETIC MACRO
FIBER REINFORCED BEAMS RESEARCH

April 15, 2013

Dr. Sajtos Istvn

associate professor
head of department

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Tel: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

2/26

1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Testing specimens.................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1. Geometry .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2. Concrete ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
2.3. Fibres................................................................................................................................................................. 4
3. Test method ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
3.1. Re3 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2. Load-deflection and load-CMOD diagrams .................................................................................................. 5
4. Results ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6
4.1. MAKRO1 EPC BC48 dosage 4 kg and 6 kg............................................................................................ 6
4.2. MAKRO2 EPC BC54 dosage 4 kg and 6 kg............................................................................................ 8
4.3. MAKRO3 EPC MQ58 dosage 4 kg ........................................................................................................ 10
4.4. MAKRO4 BRUGG CONTEC CONCRIX dosage 4 kg and 6 kg........................................................ 12
4.5. MAKRO5 SIKA dosage 4 kg and 6 kg................................................................................................... 14
4.6. MAKRO6 ADFIL dosage 4 kg and 6 kg ................................................................................................ 16
4.7. MAKRO7 CHRYSO FIBRE GUNITA 50 dosage 4 kg and 6 kg ........................................................ 18
5. Summarized results .............................................................................................................................................. 20
6. Compression test results....................................................................................................................................... 23
Annex A - Mix designs.............................................................................................................................................. 25

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

3/26

1. Introduction
The goal of this research was to test independently the leader synthetic fibres in the
European market. Most of the fibres are used for industrial floors, tunnels or precast
concrete elements. For this reason we tested from two different concrete strength class:
C30/37 and C50/60, the first modelled the typical industrial floor concrete, and the second
the typical precast or tunnel.
The beams was made in the same circumstances, e.g. same day from the same kinds of
concrete and tested at the same time. During the hardening phase all the beams was stored in
the same conditions.
2. Testing specimens
2.1. Geometry
The test beam specimens measured 600 mm long with a section of 150 x 150 mm. The
beams were notched on the bottom to a thickness of 3 mm and 25 mm depth, the loading
was applied above the notch.
Test specimens were made at the concrete laboratory of MAPEI on 4-8 of February, 2013.
The beams was named according to the fiber and the dosage, i.g. BC48 5kg.
2.2. Concrete
Two kind of concrete was made: C30/37 and C50/60. Both mix has a flow and a slump tests
by plain concrete and fibre reinforced concrete.

Fig 1. flow test and slump test of the plain concrete

The exact mix properties can be found in Annex A.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

4/26

2.3. Fibres
The name of the fibres, photos and documents are set out in the results section. The
geometry of the fibre, shape, material and the notes during the mixing (i.g. any mixing
problems) are also stated.
3. Test method
The testing method is as stated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2.: testing method recommended by RILEM

We made the test according to the following guideline:
RILEM TC 162-TDF : Test and design methods for steel fibre reinforced concrete
(Vandewalle, L., et al., 2002).
3.1. Re3
The most suitable design recommendation for designing industrial floors is the TR34
Concrete industrial ground floors (The Concrete Society UK, 2003). The use of the Re3
number for designing FRC floors is defined in the Japanese guideline JSCE SF-4 (Japanese
Society of Civil Engineers, 1985). The Re3 number is the average of the residual stress and
the flexural strength divided in percentage (Fig. 3.):

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

5/26

Re3

Fa
%
Fc

Fig. 3.: the calculation of the residual stress (JSCE SF-4)

3.2. Load-deflection and load-CMOD diagrams

Most of the guidelines use the load-deflection diagram to define the stress-strain diagram, but
there are also some that prefer the load-CMOD (Crack Mouth Opening Displacement). This
value is directly measured on the crack opening, whist the stress-strain diagram could be defined
more accurately.
Both measurement is suitable for calculation and for comparing different kind of FRC.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

6/26

4. Results
4.1. MAKRO1 EPC BC48 dosage 4 kg and 6 kg
Details of the fibre
type:
section:
length:
diameter:
weight:
number in 1 kg:

embossed surface polypropylene fibre

oval
48 mm
1,3 x 0,5 mm
1,66 gram / 100 db
60241

dosage:
volume%:

4 kg/m3
0,6939 m3/m3

6 kg/m3
1,0409 m3/m3

Notes
The fibre of the dosage above mixed well, the fresh fibre reinforced concrete was
homogenous and easy to compressed.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

7/26

Load-CMOD diagrams
C30/37 - BC 48 - 4 kg
16000
14000

Force [N]

12000
beam 1

10000

beam 2
beam 3

8000

beam 4
6000

mean

4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

C50/60 - BC 48 - 6 kg
20000
18000
16000

Force [N]

14000
beam 1
12000

beam 2

10000

beam 3
beam 4

8000

mean
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

8/26

4.2. MAKRO2 EPC BC54 dosage 4 kg and 6 kg

Details of the fibre
type:
section:
length:
diameter:
weight:
number in 1 kg:

embossed surface polypropylene fibre

oval
54 mm
1,4 x 0,4 mm
2,81 gram / 100 db
35587

dosage:
volume%:

4 kg/m3
0,4304 m3/m3

6 kg/m3
0,6456 m3/m3

Notes
The fibre of the dosage above mixed well, the fresh fibre reinforced concrete was
homogenous and easy to compressed.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

9/26

Load-CMOD diagrams
C30/37 - BC 54 - 4 kg
16000
14000

Force [kN]

12000
beam 1

10000

beam 2
beam 3

8000

beam 4
6000

mean

4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

C50/60 - BC54 - 6 kg
20000
18000
16000

Force [kN]

14000
beam 1
12000

beam 2

10000

beam 3
beam 4

8000

mean
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

10/26

4.3. MAKRO3 EPC MQ58 dosage 4 kg

Details of the fibre
type:
section:
length:
diameter:
weight:
number in 1 kg:

embossed surface polypropylene fibre

oval
58 mm
0,4 x 1,1 mm
1,96 gram / 100 db
51020

dosage:
volume%:

4 kg/m3
0,5208 m3/m3

Notes
The fibre of the dosage above mixed well, the fresh fibre reinforced concrete was homogenous
and easy to compressed.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

11/26

Load-CMOD diagrams
C30/37 - MQ58 - 4 kg
16000
14000

Force [kN]

12000
beam 1
beam 2
beam 3
beam 4
mean

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

12/26

4.4. MAKRO4 BRUGG CONTEC CONCRIX dosage 4 kg and 6 kg

Details of the fibre
type:
section:
length:
diameter:
weight:
number in 1 kg:

embossed surface polypropylene fibre

oval
49 mm
0,7 x 0,35 mm
1,01 gram / 100 db
99010

dosage:
volume%:

4 kg/m3
0,4754 m3/m3

6 kg/m3
0,7131 m3/m3

Notes
The fibre of the dosage above mixed well, the fresh fibre reinforced concrete was
homogenous and easy to compressed.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

13/26

Load-CMOD diagrams
C30/37 - CONCRIX - 4 kg
16000
14000

Force [N]

12000
beam 1

10000

beam 2
beam 3

8000

beam 4
6000

mean

4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

C50/60 - CONCRIX - 6 kg
16000
14000

Force [N]

12000
beam 1

10000

beam 2
beam 3

8000

beam 4
6000

mean

4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

14/26

4.5. MAKRO5 SIKA dosage 4 kg and 6 kg

Details of the fibre
type:
section:
length:
diameter:
weight:
number in 1 kg:

embossed surface polypropylene fibre

oval
48 mm
0,65 x 1.55 mm
3.32 gram / 100 db
30120

dosage:
volume%:

4 kg/m3
0.5826 m3/m3

6 kg/m3
0.8739 m3/m3

Notes
The fibre of the dosage above mixed well, the fresh fibre reinforced concrete was
homogenous and easy to compressed.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

15/26

Load-CMOD diagrams
C30/37 - SIKA - 4 kg
14000
12000

Force [N]

10000
beam 1
beam 2
beam 3
beam 4
mean

8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

C50/60 - SIKA - 6 kg
18000
16000
14000

Force [N]

12000

beam 1
beam 2
beam 3
beam 4
mean

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

16/26

4.6. MAKRO6 ADFIL dosage 4 kg and 6 kg

Details of the fibre
type:
section:
length:
diameter:
weight:
number in 1 kg:

embossed surface polypropylene fibre

oval
53 mm
0.7 x 1.10 mm
3.27 gram / 100 db
30581

dosage:
volume%:

4 kg/m3
0.4992 m3/m3

6 kg/m3
0.7488 m3/m3

Notes
The fibre of the dosage above mixed well, the fresh fibre reinforced concrete was
homogenous and easy to compressed.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

17/26

Load-CMOD diagrams
C30/37 - ADFIL - 4 kg
14000
12000

Force [N]

10000
beam 1
beam 2
beam 3
beam 4
mean

8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

C50/60 - ADFIL - 6 kg
18000
16000
14000

Force [N]

12000

beam 1
beam 2
beam 3
beam 4
mean

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

18/26

4.7. MAKRO7 CHRYSO FIBRE GUNITA 50 dosage 4 kg and 6 kg

Details of the fibre
type:
section:
length:
diameter:
weight:
number in 1 kg:

embossed surface polypropylene fibre

oval
48 mm
0.7 x 1.45 mm
4.58 gram / 100 db
21834

dosage:
volume%:

4 kg/m3
0.4255 m3/m3

6 kg/m3
0.6382 m3/m3

Notes
The fibre of the dosage above mixed well, the fresh fibre reinforced concrete was
homogenous and easy to compressed.
Major differences could be seen between the individual fibres.

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

19/26

Load-CMOD diagrams
C30/37 - CHRYSO - 4 kg
16000
14000

Force [N]

12000
beam 1
beam 2
beam 3
beam 4
mean

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

C50/60 - CHRYSO - 6 kg
18000
16000
14000

Force [N]

12000

beam 1
beam 2
beam 3
beam 4
mean

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

20/26

5. Summarized results
C30/37
16000
14000
12000

Force [N]

C-4-BC48-mean
10000

C-4-MQ-mean
C-4-BC54-mean
C-4-CON-mean

8000

C-4-SIK-mean
C-4-ADF-mean

6000

C-4-FR-mean
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

C50/60
20000
18000
16000
14000

Force [N]

E-6-BC48-mean
12000

E-6-BC54-mean
E-6-CON-mean

10000

E-6-SIK-mean
E-6-ADF-mean

8000

E-6-FR-mean
6000
4000
2000
0
0

CMOD [mm]

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

21/26

number of the fibres in 1 m3

120000
100000
BC 48
BC 54
MQ 58
CONCRIX
SIKA
ADFIL
CHRYSO

number

80000
60000
40000
20000
0

volume V%
0,8
0,7
BC 48
BC 54
MQ 58
CONCRIX
SIKA
ADFIL
CHRYSO

volume V%

0,6
0,5
0,4
0,3
0,2
0,1
0

fiber length [m] in 1 m3

25000

fiber length

20000

15000
10000

5000

BC 48
BC 54
MQ 58
CONCRIX
SIKA
ADFIL
CHRYSO

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

22/26

slump test
250

slump [mm]

200

BC 48
BC 54
MQ 58
CONCRIX
SIKA
ADFIL
CHRYSO
plain

150

100

50

flow test
60

flow [mm]

50
40
30
20
10

BC 48
BC 54
MQ 58
CONCRIX
SIKA
ADFIL
CHRYSO
plain

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

23/26

6. Compression test results

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

24/26

sample
A1
A2
A3
A4

sample
E1
E2
E3
E4

cube test
max. force [kN]
1431.20
1369.30
1201.50
1126.80
1282.20

cube test
max. force [kN]
1764.1
1674.6
1608.7
1568.3
1653.93

stress [MPa]
63.61
60.85
53.39
50.05
56.98
6.32
2.16
6.32
2.35
42.10
37

stress [MPa]
78.41
74.43
71.49
69.7
73.51
3.81
2.16
3.81
2.35
64.55
60

f.cube.test / (f.cube - 4) > 1

1.93
1.84
1.62
1.52
mean
dispersion
min dispersion
sig dispersion
Student factor
f.ck.cube.test
f.ck.cube C30/37

f.cube.test / (f.cube - 4) > 1

1.40
1.33
1.28
1.24
mean
dispersion
min dispersion
sig dispersion
Student factor
f.ck.cube.test
f.ck.cube C50/60

Both of the concrete was in the appropriate strength class!

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

25/26

Annex A - Mix designs

Mix design of the concrete C

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773

26/26

Mix design of the concrete E

1521 Budapest, Megyetem rakpart 3. K plet II. 42.

Telefon: 463-1317

Fax: 463-1773