Complete Stress–Strain Curves of Self-Compacting Steel Fiber Reinforced Expanded-Shale Lightweight Concrete under Uniaxial Compression

Abstract

To expand the structural application of steel fiber reinforced expanded-shale lightweight concrete (SFRELC), a self-compacting SFRELC with high-workability was developed based on previous research. As part of the investigation, the present study focuses on the adaptability of formulas used for the complete stress–strain curves of steel fiber reinforced lightweight-aggregate concrete and conventional concrete under uniaxial compression. On the basis of mix proportion of SFRELC, self-compacting SFRELC was designed with the volume fraction of steel fiber as 0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, and 2.0%. Eighteen cylindrical specimens with dimensions of Φ150 mm × 300 mm were tested to measure the uniaxial compressive stress–strain curves of self-compacting SFRELC. Results indicated that, with the increasing volume fraction of steel fiber, the compressive strain at the peak-stress of the stress–strain curve increased, while the slope of the descending portion decreased. This increased the energy absorption of self-compacting SFRELC with a higher compression toughness. With a comparison of test results between four groups of calculation models, a group of formulas is selected to express the complete stress–strain curves of self-compacting SFRELC under uniaxial compression.