Enhanced Dynamic Compressive Behavior of Rubberized Concrete with Steel–Glass Fibers

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Authors: Jiahao Wen, Zhe Xiong, Xianpeng Wu, Xiaohui Li, Wenhua Luo
Cited by: 4
References: 33

Abstract

To enhance the damage resistance of protective engineering materials under extreme loads such as explosions and impacts, this study, building upon the improvement in impact resistance of concrete achieved by rubber modification, further incorporates steel fibers and glass fibers to synergistically enhance impact resistance and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Using split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) testing, a comparative investigation was conducted on the dynamic mechanical responses of four specimen groups, namely plain rubberized concrete, single steel fiber-reinforced, single glass fiber-reinforced, and hybrid steel–glass fiber-reinforced rubberized concrete, over a strain-rate range of 30–185 s−1. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of hybrid fibers significantly enhances the dynamic compressive performance of plain rubber concrete. Specifically, the dynamic compressive strength increases from 40.73–61.29 MPa to 60.25–101.86 MPa, accompanied by a 59.5% increase in strain-rate sensitivity. Meanwhile, the fragment fineness modulus after failure rises from 3.20–3.33 to 3.73–4.20, indicating improved post-impact integrity. In addition, the hybrid fiber-reinforced specimens exhibit the highest energy dissipation capacity at identical strain rates. Their dynamic stress–strain responses are characterized by higher stiffness, improved ductility, and more pronounced progressive failure behavior. These findings provide experimental evidence for the design of high-impact-resistant protective engineering materials.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Innovative concrete reinforcement materials Structural Response to Dynamic Loads High-Velocity Impact and Material Behavior

Publication details

Journal / source
Buildings
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
16
Issue
3
Pages
472–472
Publication date
23 January 2026
Language
EN