Influence of fiber chemical coating on the acoustic emission behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete

The current study focuses on the effect of chemical coating on the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics monitored during the fracture process in steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC). Different shapes of chemically treated and un-treated steel fibers are used to create specimens which are subjected to four point bending up to failure. Sensitive AE indices demonstrate that the coating gives distinct characteristics to the interface bonding between the fiber and the concrete matrix, which are evident mainly during the pull-out stage, after the moment of macroscopic crack formation. Specifically, AE average frequency and RA value, which defines the rising angle of the waveforms indicate that coating results in extensive matrix cracking in addition to the friction between fiber and concrete which characterizes the uncoated fibers. AE analysis can be used for interpretation of the fracturing stage and characterization of the fracture mode. It is shown that the surface conditioning of the fibers leaves a clear fingerprint on the AE signals, shedding light into the processes that occur during failure in SFRC.

► First reported acoustic emission study on concrete with chemically coated fibers.
► Evaluation of the fiber–matrix bonding quality by their acoustic emission during fracture.
► Distinguish of the subsequent fracture stages by their acoustic signatures.