Durability and Dimensional Stability of Steel Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Mortar in Comparison to High Performance Concrete

This paper presents a study on durability and dimensional stability of a Steel Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Mortar (SFRCM), and the results are compared with those of a common High Performance Concrete (HPC) mix.Common mechanical, durability, and dimensional stability properties of the hardened mortars and concrete are investigated by testing water absorption, water penetration, resistance to elevated temperature, thermal expansion coefficient, and drying shrinkage. The results reveal superior mechanical and durability performance of SFRCM in comparison to those of the HPC. However, there were some concerns about the performance of SFRCM exposed to elevated temperatures because of the low porosity and permeation. In addition, the higher thermal expansion coefficient and different shrinkage behavior of SFRCM should be considered in the design of structural elements.