The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Effect of Condensed Silica Fume on the Steel-Concrete Bond

Gjorv, Odd E.; Monteiro, Paulo J. M.; Mehta, Povindar K.

UCB/SEMM-1986/02, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1986-01, 33 pages

Mechanical behavior was studied by using pull-out test (ASTM C234) on concrete of varying compressive strengths and varying contents of silica fume (0, 8, and 16% by weight of cement). The effect of silica fume on the steel cement paste transition zone was studied on small composite specimens by use of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The following appear warranted: (1) Increased additions of condensed silica fume up to 16% by weight of cement showed an improving effect on the pull-out strength, especially in the high compressive strength range of the concrete; (2) both porosity and thickness of the transition zone were reduced with the presence of silica fume.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/SEMM/SEMM-86-02.pdf (2 MB)