Investigation of the effect of adding pozzolan and slag on the mechanical properties of self-compacting fiber cement composites

Self-compacting composite concrete is known as a cement composite with high performance and adhesion. This composite has a lot of psychological capability and efficiency. Concrete failure depends on the formation of cracks and microcracks. As the load increases, the microcracks join together to form cracks. To solve this problem and also to create homogeneous conditions, in recent years, thin fibers of fiber in the entire volume of concrete are used. Fiber concrete is actually a type of cementitious composite that increases its tensile and compressive strength by using reinforcing fibers inside the concrete mix. In this study, the effect of adding materials (Microsilica Fume, Fly Ash, GGBFS) and sinusoidal steel fibers (corrugated) on the mechanical properties of self-compacting cement composite was investigated in 9 mixing designs. For this purpose, cement alternative additives in the amount of 10% by weight of cementitious materials and steel fibers in the amount of 1% of the volume of cement composite were used in the mixing design. In the compressive strength test, the sample with 1% steel fibers had a 4.5% increase in strength compared to the reference sample, which showed a very low effect of steel fibers on the compressive strength. Also, the use of microsilica by 10% by weight of cement substitute increased the amount of compressive strength by 6.6%, which due to the property of microsilica in increasing resistance, this result was not far from the eye. In general, the use of steel fibers had no effect on the results of compressive strength, capillarity, and water absorption, but the changes in other test results compared to the reference sample were quite noticeable and expected due to the use of steel fibers.