International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology

Vol. 29, No. 03, (2020), pp. 6545 - 6550

Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced concrete-A Review

M Raghunanthan1, P Chandrasekaran2, K Nirmalkumar3

1
PG Student, Kongu Engineering College, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Professor, Kongu Engineering College, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
3
Professor, Kongu Engineering College, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
1
raghubheem14@gmail.com, 2civilpc1965@kongu.ac.in,
3
nirmalkumar@kongu.ac.in

Abstract
This article presents about the art of knowledge of ultra-high performance concrete
with the reinforcement of fibers. In present stage, high performance concrete has been
widely used in construction industry. In this review paper, a review about the mechanical
properties and durability properties of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete
has been studied from the different research articles with different replacements of
mineral admixtures such silica fume, ground granulated blast furnace slag and two types
of fiber addition such as polypropylene fiber and steel fiber. The results from various
research articles showed that the addition of steel fibers in ultra-high performance
concrete was more effective in both mechanical and durability properties than the
addition of polypropylene fiber to the concrete.

Keywords: ultra high performance, silica fume, steel fiber, durability

1. Introduction

The addition of mineral admixture such as silica fume, fly ash and chemical
admixture increase the quality of concrete which in turn produces high performance
concrete. Further development of the concrete technology leads to the introduction of
Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC). The compressive strength of UHPC was 150
Mpa and tensile strength was 6.2 Mpa (Ali alsaman, et al., 2017). The UHPC can also be
characterized by the addition of fiber which leads to development of Ultra High
Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC). UHPFRC is a composite which
contains large volume of steel fibers, low water binder ratio, and silica content and
aggregate. The material properties such as workability, strength, modulus of elasticity and
permeability has an outstanding characterization when compared to that of the
conventional concrete, and also results in good resistance to the environmental conditions.
The compressive strength were 1150 to 200 Mpa and uni axial tension of UHPFRC is 7 to
15 Mpa (Petrmaca, et al., 2013). UHPFRC shows an enhanced structural behaviour when
compared to that of the conventional concrete. The curing process for UHPFRC are
usually carried under elevated temperature or using pressure which helps to improve its
properties by quickening the hydration reaction of the binder (Petrmaca, et al., 2013).
Ground quartz can also be used as a filler material of about 8 to 9% in the
concrete. The diameter of the ground quartz is less than the Portland cement which was
helpful to fill the voids between the sand and cement. This makes the concrete denser and
thus increased the compressive strength and decrease d the permeability. Generally the
filler material size influence d the compressive strength of the concrete (Ali alsaman, et
al., 2017).

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 International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology
Vol. 29, No. 03, (2020), pp. 6545 - 6550

Many studies had been done by the researchers but there was only limited information for
UHPFRC. The main reason that restricts the application of UHPFRC was its high cost.
This review paper gives a study about the properties such as workability, mechanical and
durability. The main purpose of this review paper is to recap the previous process that has
been done by various research.

2. Workability

When fiber was added to the concrete it forms a definite structure and give good
resistance to the segregation of aggregates. The addition of fibers in the lightweight
concrete produces “holding effect” i.e. the fiber will be distributed uniformly in the
concrete and reduces the bleeding of the concrete which affects the slump flow than that
of the slump value. When polypropylene fiber is added to high performance concrete, it
shows the slump of 20.8% whereas the addition of steel fiber shows increase d in slump
of 54.2% (Bing chan, et al.,2005)

3. Mechanical Properties
3.1 Compressive Strength

In the concrete, the compressive strength can be increased by the addition of

silica fume and in- creasing the curing age. Further addition of fiber makes the concrete
stronger. At 0.6% of fiber volume fraction of mix the compressive strength showed a
variation from 3% to 9% and at 12% of fiber volume it’s showed variation from 4% to
15% with adoptable replacement of silica fume in the cement. The compressive strength
at 28 days is 10% more when compared with 7 days of curing age and simultaneously
strength at 91 days of curing is 15% greater when compared to 7 days of curing age
(Susantoteng, et al., 2018). If the amount of fiber and the curing age is increased then
there is a predominant growth in the compressive strength of the concrete. At 6% of fiber
volume fraction to the mix strength about 141.05 Mpa at 42 days of curing age were
obtained and without fiber it showed a strength of 110.76 Mpa (Mousadpourbaba, et al.,
2018).
At 10% of silica fume replaced with cement the compressive strength at 91 days
of curing gives 98Mpa which is 11% higher than that of the value obtained from 7 days of
curing. With polypropylene fiber at the amount of 0.45 fraction volume with the mix
gives 100.3Mpa of compressive strength at 91 days of curing. The best performance of
compressive strength is obtained by adding 1.0% of steel fiber to the mix which gives
value of 104.3Mpa at 91 days of curing (Vahidafroughsabet, et al., 2015).

Table 1: Compressive strength with 0% to 6% of fiber addition (Mousadpourbaba,

et al.,2018).

FIBER REPLACEMENT (%)

CURING
AGE 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0%

Compressive strength (Mpa)

7 96.59 79.43 84.76 88.92 81.77 80.47 67.86

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28 137.93 122.33 122.2 121.29 112.32 111.15 110.11

42 141.05 123.63 122.72 121.42 112.32 112.19 110.76

Table 2: Compressive strength with different mixtures of silica fume, polypropylene

fiber (PP) and steel fiber (ST) (Vahidafroughsabet, et al., 2015).

REPLACEMENTS Compressive strength (Mpa)

7 days 28 days 91 days
Silica fume (10%) 75.2 88.8 98
PP (0.15%) 74.9 91.2 98.6
PP (0.30%) 75.7 91.5 101.4
PP (0.45%) 77.1 92.8 100.3
ST (0.25%) 76.1 92.3 98.5
ST (0.50%) 77.4 93.8 102
ST (0.75%) 78.3 95 102.6
ST (1%) 79.9 98.7 104.3

3.2 Split Tensile Strength

The split tensile strength with the replacement of 10% of silica fume with cement
was 5.02Mpa at 7 days and 6.3 at 91days. The incorporation of steel fiber shows a
significant result than the addition of polypropylene fibers and silica fume. The addition
of steel fiber shows13% to 58% of strength at 28 days while the addition of polypropylene
fiber shows 13% to20% of strength (Vahidafroughsabet, et al., 2015).
The split tensile strength showed 19% higher strength when compared to normal
concrete with 0.5% of fiber volume fraction mix in high strength fiber reinforced concrete
(HSFRC) and it increased to 98.3% at 2.0% of fiber volume fraction HSFRC (Song, et al.,
2004).

Table 3: Split tensile strength with different volume of polypropylene fiber,

steel fiber and silica fume (Vahidafroughsabet, et al., 2015)

Split tensile strength (Mpa)

REPLACEMENTS
7 days 28 days 91 days
Silica fume (10%) 5.02 5.88 6.30
PP (0.15%) 5.13 5.95 6.47
PP (0.30%) 5.17 6.10 6.45
PP (0.45%) 5.34 6.30 6.72
ST (0.25%) 5.24 6.05 6.60
ST (0.50%) 5.46 6.41 7.40
ST (0.75%) 6.16 7.29 7.87

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Vol. 29, No. 03, (2020), pp. 6545 - 6550

ST (1%) 7.32 8.17 8.80

Table 4: Split tensile strength (Song, et al., 2004)

Fiber replacement Split tensile strength for 28 days of

(%) curing (Mpa)
0 5.8
0.5 6.9
1 8.7
1.5 10.8
2 11.7

3.3 Flexural Strength

There was an increase in flexural strength with increase in volume fiber content in
concrete and its curing age. Without the addition of fiber the flexural strength of UHPC
was 19Mpa at 90 days of curing. The value of flexural strength increase up to 35Mpa with
the addition of 3% of fiber volume in UHPC (Zemeiwu, et al., 2016). The flexural
strength of UHPFRC with the replacement of 0.15%, 0.30% and 0.45% of polypropylene
fiber is 8.97, 8.91 and 9.12Mpa respectively at 91 days of curing. But there was increase
in strength by using steel fiber instead of polypropylene fiber, with the replacement of
0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75 and 0.1% of steel fiber gives strength about 9.41, 10.92, 11.18, 13.10
Mpa respectively at 91 days of curing age (Vahidafroughsabet, et al., 2015).

Table 5: Flexural strength with different replacements (Vahidafroughsabet,

et al., 2015)

Flexural strength (MPa)

REPLACEMENTS
7 days 28 days 91 days
Silica fume (10%) 7.18 8.38 8.73
PP (0.15%) 7.36 8.50 8.97
PP (0.30%) 7.52 8.59 8.91
PP (0.45%) 7.75 8.84 9.12
ST (0.25%) 7.58 8.93 9.41
ST (0.50%) 8.64 9.97 10.92
ST (0.75%) 9.56 10.61 11.18
ST (1%) 10.66 12.58 13.10

3.4 Modulus of Elasticity

The secant modulus of elasticity of normal concrete were 35.5Gpa, with fiber
reinforced it is found to be 29.8 Gpa. For high performance concrete it was 41.1Gpa and
for ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete it was 47.5Gpa (Petrmaca, et al.,
2013). With the replacement of nano silica of 3% of cement content and 0.2% of
polypropylene fiber the initial modulus of elasticity of high performance fiber reinforced
concrete it was found to be 47.5Mpa and secant modulus of elasticity was 43Gpa. If the

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concrete contains 10% of silica fume along with 0.2% of polypropylene fiber the value of
initial modulus of elasticity and secant modulus of elasticity was 49.7Gpa and 45.1Gpa
respectively (Saberfallah, et al., 2017).

4. Durability Properties
4.1 Chloride Migration

The chloride migration was carried out to test the permeability of structure which
affects the durability and reduces the life span. The addition of silica fume in concrete
reduced the chloride penetration. By replacing 10% of silica fume with cement there is
reduction of 76% of chloride diffusency at 28 days and by adding 30% of ground
granulated blast furnace slag there was a reduction of 31% when compared to that of the
normal concrete. If combination of both minerals with silica fume and GGBS there was
improvement in chloride penetration and reduction up to 78% was obtained. Along with
silica fume 0.6%of steel fibers showed growth in chloride migration coefficient ranging
from 558% to 1055% and with 1.2% of fiber replacement shows 672% to 1961% when
compared to that of the normal concrete without fibers (Susantoteng, et al., 2018).
With the addition of 75% of silica fume to the cement decreased the chloride
diffusion coefficient in high performance concrete. By increasing 7.5% to 15% of silica
fume doesn’t show any major growth in decrement of diffusion coefficient, similar result
were found when the combination GGBS and silica fume was used. The bulk density and
diffusivity of the concrete were inversely proportional to each other (A.elahi, et al., 2010)

4.2 Electrical Resistivity

Electrical resistivity was done to test the resistance of reinforcing steel to

corrosion inside the concrete. With the replacement of 10% of silica fume with cement
there was an increase in the electrical resistivity of 10.6 times similarly 30% replacement
of GGBS with cement gives 2.4 times when compared with that of the normal concrete at
28 days of curing age. The addition of steel fibers in concrete leads to reduction of
electrical resistivity with 0.6% of steel fiber replacement its shows a reduction of 83%,
74% and 71% at 7 days, 28 days and 91 days respectively, with 1.2% it shows a reduction
of 94%, 92% and 90% respectively when compared to concrete without fibers
(Susentoteng, et al., 2018). By replacing silica fume of 10% with cement content there
was an increase in electrical resistivity by 3.1, 6.7, 5.3 times at 7, 28 and 91 days when
compared to that of the normal concrete. There was a reduction in electrical resistivity of
82% at 28 days with the addition of steel fibers when compared to that of the concrete
with 10% replacement of silica fume. When both steel fiber and silica fume were used
simultaneously the electrical resistivity were 152% greater than the normal concrete
(Vahidafroughsabet, et al., 2015).

5. Conclusion
1. Different fibers exhibit different holding effect when added in the concrete which was
the main reason for the reduction of surface bleeding in concrete and gives a
uniformity in concrete mix. The addition of steel fiber with adoptable amount of
replacement agents such as silica fume, GGBS shows greater workability when
compared addition of polypropylene fiber in concrete.
2. The compressive strength, flexural strength of high performance fiber reinforced
concrete can be increased by adoptable addition of mineral admixtures (10% of silica
fume or 30% of GGBS) along with proper volume of steel fibers (1.2% of steel fibers)
with the mix and by increasing the curing age of concrete upto 91 days. Addition of

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Vol. 29, No. 03, (2020), pp. 6545 - 6550

steel fibers in high performance concrete shows greater performance when compared
with the addition of polypropylene fiber in high performance concrete.
3. Modulus of elasticity showed a higher value of 47.5 Gpa when adding steel fiber in
high performance concrete instead of using polypropylene fiber.
4. The durability properties was enhanced by adding admixtures peculiarly when silica
fume is added. With the combination of both silica fume and GGBS (10% of silica
fume, 30% of GGBS) there is reduction in chloride diffusivity of concrete while there
is increase in electrical resistivity of concrete with corresponds to the curing age.
5. The fiber reinforced high performance concrete showed a high resistance to chloride
penetration but there was a reduction in electrical resistivity of concrete which showed
that to apply low corrosion resistance of reinforcement bars in concrete

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