International Journal of Engineering and Technology

Steel fibre addition in concrete possesses high merits in terms of achieving homogeneity and tensile strength properties. Polymeric addition in concrete has high advantages in terms of pore filling effect and subsequent increase in durability index. The combined addition of steel and polymeric latex additions in concrete leads to increased strength, durability, toughness, resistance to cracking and crack propagation. Studies were conducted in the present study to analyse the properties of concrete that can be further improved with the addition of polymer styrene butadiene rubber emulsion (SBR) along with steel fibres. In this research analysis, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex as a polymeric admixture was used in steel fibre reinforced concrete. The effect of curing conditions on the strength gain properties of composite steel fibre latex matrix on the compressive, flexural strength, and split tensile test of polymer modified steel fibre reinforced concrete (PSFC) concrete was examined. Including SBR latex at a certain % of binder in the PSFC concrete improves the bonds within the cement matrix and steel fibres (SF). This is due to the SBR films formed in the matrix. By the comparison of properties of SFC and PSFC, it can be shown that a tremendous increase in compressive strength when 4% and 8% SBR is added along with 0.75% and 1.5% SF. The increase in flexural strength was noticed and post cracking ductility is imparted to concrete.