Experimental Study on Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Scoria Aggregate Concrete Subjected to Freeze-Thaw Cycles and Then Exposure to Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

Steel-fiber-reinforced scoria aggregate concrete (SFSAC), which contains scoria aggregate and steel fiber, was developed to reduce the environmental impacts and improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Experimental studies were performed. The test variables included steel fiber volume contents (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%), freeze-thaw cycles (0 and 25 times), and temperature (20 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C). Mass loss, relative dynamic elastic modulus, mechanical properties, and the variation pattern of the complete stress–strain curves were analyzed through rapid freeze-thaw, high-temperature, and mechanical tests. The test results showed that after 25 freeze-thaw cycles and then exposure to high temperatures, the surfaces of SFSAC specimens showed aggregate spalling accompanied by dense cracks. Moreover, the residual mechanical properties of steel-fiber-reinforced natural aggregate concrete (SFNAC) were better than those of natural aggregate concrete (NAC). Although the incorporation of steel fiber cannot significantly improve the anti-freezing performance of SFSAC, it can improve the residual mechanical properties of SFSAC, and the optimal amount of incorporation is 1%, considering the economic cost factors. The stress–strain curves of both SFSAC and SFNAC showed the same trend after freeze-thaw cycles and then high temperatures, i.e., the peak stress decreased, the peak strain increased, and the descending section tended to level off. Finally, based on the concrete damage mechanics theory, considering the role of steel fibers in the uniaxial compression process of scoria aggregate concrete (SAC) and the effect of freeze-thaw and high-temperature tests on the SFSAC, the mechanical damage model and the uniaxial compression stress–strain constitutive model were proposed as being able to highly accurately reflect the overall process damage characteristics of SFSAC after freeze-thaw and then high-temperature tests, and also provided a theoretical basis for the high-temperature resistance assessment of SFSAC structures in cold regions.