Dissertation / Thesis research proposal

Kartik Saini

1. Proposed advisor: name & designation: Er. Bhanu Pratap Sir

2. Proposed title of the Dissertation / Thesis: Strength and behaviour of steel fibre
reinforced self compacting concrete structural elements

Reason for this topic selection: Self-compacting concrete (SCC) offers several economic and
technical benefits; the use of steel fibers extends its possibilities. Steel fibers acts as a bridge to
retard their cracks propagation, and improve several characteristics and properties of the
concrete. Fibers are known to significantly affect the workability of concrete.
The application of Steel Fibre Reinforced Self-compacting Concrete (SFRSC) in the construction
of structural elements is seen as an alternative solution to the complication in placing the
reinforcement and compaction of normally vibrated concrete. The main advantage of SFRSC is
the ability to be properly poured in place, filling the formwork corners and small voids between
reinforcement bars by means of its own weight. Many research had been done in exploring the
structural performance of SFRSC due to the enhanced engineering and mechanical properties.
The incorporation of steel fibres in the mix has been found to enhance the hardened properties of
self-compacting concrete in terms of its tensile strength, ductility, toughness, energy absorption
capacity.

I have chosen this topic so that I can test the strength and behaviour of SFRSC .
 1. Literature review (not more than a page) stating the gap &justification for the topic.

Over the last few decades, the astonishing developments of superplasticizers technology
allowed great achievements in the conception of concrete mixes exhibiting self-
compacting ability. Since the 1980s, some methodologies have been proposed to achieve
self-compacting requirements in fresh concrete mixes, based on the evaluation of the
flowing properties of these mixes. There still persist, however, some doubts about the
most appropriate strategy to define the optimum composition of a self-compacting
concrete (SCC) mix, based on a required performance. The behavior of SCC as a
structural material can be improved if adequate steel fiber reinforcement is added to SCC
mix composition. In fact, the fiber-reinforcement mechanisms can convert the brittle
behavior of this cement-based material into a pseudoductile behavior up to a crack width
that is acceptable under the structural design point of view. Fiber addition, however,
increases the complexity of the mix design process, due to the strong perturbation effect
that steel fibers cause on fresh concrete flow. In the present work, a mix design method is
proposed to develop cost effective and high performance steel fiber-reinforced self-
compacting concrete (SFRSCC). The material properties of the developed SFRSCC are
assessed as well as its potentiality as a structural material, carrying out punching and
flexural tests on panel prototypes. A material nonlinear analysis is carried out, aiming to
address the possibility of calibrating the constitutive model parameters by obtaining, with
an inverse analysis, the fracture parameters using force-deflection relationships recorded
in simpler laboratory tests, such as the three-point notched beam bending test. The
contribution of steel fibers for punching resistance is also discussed.

Advantages of SFRSC
 Improve structural strength
 Reduce steel reinforcement requirements
 Reduce crack widths and control the crack widths tightly, thus improving durability
 Improve impact– and abrasion–resistance
 Improve freeze-thaw resistance
2. Research methodology for Dissertation: (how do you want to do thisresearch?)

a. Step 1: Method of Primary data collection

The data can be collected through internet and other research papers, which
includes all the information, advantages, disadvantages, preparation techniques,
and the performed tests to check its original strength when prepared in lab.

b. Step 2: Method of secondary data Collection

Lab test can be performed to know the actual strength and its difference from the
ideal and on-site conditions. This may include preparing of steel fiber reinforced
concrete blocks and testing its strength with lab equipment.

c. Step 3: method of data analysis

After the completion of the two steps, the data can be analyzed by comparing the
difference and its uses and applications.