Characterization of reinforced concrete with steel fibers and carbon nanotubes – CNT

Abstract

This work has as main objective the evaluation of the effect of the content of hybrid fibers on the flexural strength, toughness and residual resistances of reinforced concrete with hybrid fibers (RFC) of steel and carbon nanotubes (CNT). Three different quantity of CNT were previously dispersed by ultrasonication using a Pluronic F-127 surfactant concentration. A fixed quantity of steel fibers was used in concrete. The results obtained shows improvement in mechanical properties of RFC as compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural modulus, good interaction between steel fibres and CNTs, in the microstructure of concrete matrix and in the Pull Out steel fibre strength. The concrete showed a ductile behaviour improved with the hybridization when compared just with steel fibres. This high performance material can be applied in specific buildings like defense engineering with sensing properties.