Synergistic response of blending fibers in ultra-high-performance concrete under high rate tensile loads

This study investigated the synergistic tensile response of blending 1% long and 0.5% short steel fibers in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) at high strain rates of 16-37 s−1. Three ultra-high-performance hybrid-fiber-reinforced concretes (UHP-HFRCs) containing twisted, hooked, or smooth long (30 mm) fibers blended with short (13 mm) smooth fibers, as well as one sample (LS10MS05) blending long and medium (19 mm) smooth fibers, were examined. The blending of long and shorter steel fibers in UHPC generated high synergy in the tensile responses of the UHP-HFRCs, especially at high strain rates. Synergies were significant for strain capacity and peak toughness, but not for post-cracking strength and softening fracture energy. Among the long fibers, the hooked fibers generated the highest synergy at high strain rates, but smooth fibers produced the highest rate sensitivity in UHPC. Consequently, the LS10MS05 sample demonstrated the highest tensile resistance at high strain rates.