Experimental Investigation On Mix Designed HSC HSFRC Specimens Perfomed With Volcanic Aggregate

The selection of mix proportion is the process of choosing suitable ingredients of concrete and determine their quantities with the object of producing as economically as possible concrete of notably strength. The current paper deals with the mix design of both an HSC and HSFRC constituted by volcanic aggregates from the quarries of Eastern Sicily in Italy. The mix design was carried out on eight different concrete mixtures by using the theoretical model developed by Feret - De Larrard's and it is capable of simulating the experimental compressive strength. The HSFRC mixtures consider different volume fractions of fibers equal to 0% (HR.C), 0.5% and 2% (HSFRC). Straight Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and hooked-end steel fibers (ACC) were the two types of fibers employed in the study. Compression and tensile tests were carried out on specimens performed according to UNI codes in order to validate the mixture proportion method adopted. The HSFRC (0.5%) mixtures did not show great differences in mechanical performance by any variation of the fiber type (steel or PVA). The mechanical properties obtained by experimental tests give back a very good, accordance with the theoretical prediction of the mix design procedure adopted, and with the data reported in the literature in terms of toughness.