From Concept to Application: The Implementation of Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete in Steel Arched Truss Structures

Abstract

The present work focuses on applying Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete (SIFCON) in steel-arched truss construction systems to increase its structural performance and sustainability. SIFCON is a high-performance cement composite containing continuous discrete fibers and possesses attractive mechanical properties such as tensile strength, ductility, and energy absorption capacity. In this study, SIFCON is investigated experimentally as well as numerically with the help of ABAQUS software to determine the effectiveness of this mixture on the bearing capacity, durability, and crack resistance compared to normal concrete. Variations of thickness, fiber mass fractions, and bonding between steel-arched trusses and SIFCON laminates serve as the experimental configuration. The results presented in this study prove that the use of SIFCON laminated structures results in a substantial increase in load-bearing capacity and crack initiation time along with increased durability of the structure and its resistance to failure. These results propose SIFCON as an innovative material for composite construction systems and argue that current infrastructural problems offer a sustainable solution with this material.