HIGH STRENGTH MICROSILICA CONCRETE COMPOSITESSTUDY OF STRENGTH PROPERTIES WITH AND WITHOUT

FIBRES
Vijaya Kumar .S1, Swami .B.L.P2
1

Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Ibrahimbagh, Hyderabad-500 031, Telangana, India,
E-mail Id: svijayakumar74@gmail.com
2
Professor & Co-ordinator, Research & Consultancy, Department of Civil Engineering, Ibrahimbagh,
Hyderabad-500 031, Telangana, India, E-mail Id: blpswami@yahoo.com

Abstract
In the present experimental investigation, high strength concrete mix like M70 is designed by Earntroy and
Shacklock method. The cement content is replaced by micro silica at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 percentages. Specimens were cast
and tested for compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths at the age of 28 days. Steel fibres with an aspect ratio of 50
were added at volume percentages of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. Strength properties were determined for fibrous micro silica
concrete. The strength properties of micro silica concretes prepared with and without fibres were compared.
It is seen that the presence of micro silica is increasing the respective strengths of basic reference concrete. The
increase in the strength occurs upto an optimum 15% replacement by micro silica. Taking this as a pointer, it is
recommended to employ 15% micro silica as a replacement to OPC in the production of HPC where both strength and
durability are important. With the introduction of fibres there is increase in the compressive, split tensile and flexural
strengths by more than 20 percent compared to mixes without fibres.
Keywords: High performance concrete1, Blending2, Microsilica3, Steel fibre4, Aspect ratio5, Durability6.

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. General
Concrete is an extraordinary material because it can be not
only cast into a variety of complex shapes, but also can be
given special surface effects. Concrete is commonly made
by mixing cement with sand, crushed metal and water. As
concrete is impermeable in general, it is an ideal material
for building structures, to control, store and transport
liquids. Concrete has become a very familiar material as it
can be moulded into any form with great ease.

1.2. Advances in Concrete

Normal concrete made with port-land cement and
conventional natural stone aggregates suffer from several
deficiencies. Attempts to over-come these deficiencies
have resulted in the development of special concretes.
High Strength concretes with 60 to 80 Mpa compressive
strengths have been produced industrially by using
superplasticizers or water reducing admixtures, pozzolonas
etc.

1.3. Pozzolonic Admixtures

Pozzolonic materials are finely divided siliceous and
aluminous materials and have little or no cementatious
value and in the presence of moisture at ordinary
temperature, chemically react with calcium hydroxide
liberated during hydration, to form compounds possessing
cementatious properties. The engineering benefits likely
to be derived from the use of pozzolonas in concrete

include improved resistance to thermal cracking because

of lower heat of hydration, enhancement of ultimate
strength and impermeability due to pore refinement, a
better durability to chemical attack such as sulphate
chlorides and alkali aggregate expansion.

1.4. Nature of Microsilica

Micro Silica is a very fine off white powder material
available from amorphons silica deposit in Retorna District
of New Zealand. It is also available as an industrial biproduct from metallurgical industries.
Micro silica
(imported) possesses pozzolonic properties and its active
silica content is high. Micro Silica when used as an
admixture in cement concrete, helps in enhanced strength,
durability and many other beneficial properties. For high
strength concrete mixes and High Performance Concrete
(HPC), use of micro silica admixture at certain percentage
as replacement to ordinary portland cement (OPC) is quite
effective.

1.5. Brief Review of the previous work

Several authors have investigated the use of pozzolonic
mineral admixtures as part replacement to Ordinary
Portland Cement (OPC). R. Sreedhar [13] investigated the
role of admixtures in the production of high performance
concrete. Handong Yan et al[3] have studied the properties
of silica fume fibrous high strength concrete under the
action of repeated loading. Ramakrishnan et al[11] studied

the performance characteristics of fibre reinforced

condensed silica fume concrete.

1.6. Details of Present Investigation

In the present experimental investigation, high strength
concrete mix like M70 is designed by Earntroy and
Shacklock method. The cement content is replaced by
micro silica at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 percentages. Specimens
were cast and tested for compressive, split tensile and
flexural strengths at the age of 28 days. Steel fibres with
1mm diameter and an aspect ratio of 50 were added at
volume percentages of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. Strength
properties were determined for fibrous micro silica
concrete. The strength properties of micro silica concretes
prepared with and without fibres were compared.

2. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
The details are as follows.

2.1. Materials used

2.1.1. Cement
Ordinary Portland cement of 53 grade available in local
market of standard brand was used in the investigation.

2.1.2. Fine Aggregate

The locally available sand is used as fine aggregate in the
present investigation. The sand is free from clayey matter,
salt and organic impurities. The sand is tested for various
properties like specific gravity, bulk density etc., and in
accordance with IS 2386-1963.

2.1.3. Coarse Aggregate

Machine crushed angular granite metal of 20mm nominal
size from the local source is used as coarse aggregate. It is
free from impurities such as dust, clay particles and
organic matter etc. The coarse aggregate is also tested for
its various properties.

2.1.4. Micro Silica

Micro silica is a very fine off white pozzolonic material.
The specific gravity of micro silica is 2.32, while the
fineness is 20000cm/gm. The micro silica is in conformity
with the general requirement of pozzolona. It is obtained
from M/s. Elecom Metallurgy (Norway).

SP430 (Conplast) of M/s. Fosrock India Ltd. is used. It is

a high range water reducing chemical admixture.
The properties of OPC and Micro Silica are given in
table.1.
Table.1 Properties of OPC & Micro Silica
Sl.
No.

Description

Cement

Micro Silica

30

31

1.

Normal consistency
(Percent)

2.

Specific gravity

3.12

2.32

3.

Fineness cm2/gm

3050

20000

4.

Bulk Density Kg/m3

1400

610

5.

SiO2 (Percent)

18

83

2.2. Mix Design for M70 Concrete

Concrete mix, M70 was designed by Earntroy and
Shacklock method. The mix proportions are;
OPC=1 : Fine aggregate=0.960 : Coarse aggregate=2.23
and Water (w/c)=0.30

2.3. Various Combinations of Fibrous High

Strength Micro Silica Concrete
Micro Silica at percentages of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 was used
as part replacement of OPC. Various percentages of steel
fibres by volume of concrete like 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 were
used in the above mixes.
In total, there are 20
combinations of fibrous, high strength micro silica
concrete which were tried in the present investigation. The
details of quantities of materials in various combinations
are given in table.2 (for 1 cubic metre of concrete).

2.4. Mixing, Casting and Curing

150mm cube specimens for compressive strength, 150mm
diameter and 300mm high cylinders for split tensile
strength and 100 x 100 x 500mm beam specimens for
flexural strength were cast in adequate numbers, cured and
tested for various combinations. Standard procedures were
followed for mixing, casting, curing and testing.

2.1.5. Steel Fibre

Steel fibres of 1mm diameter with an aspect ratio of 50 are
used.

2.1.6. Water
The locally available potable water accepted for local
construction is used in the experimental investigation after
testing.

2.1.7. Superplasticizer

3. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

3.1. Results
The results of the experimental investigations are
presented in various tables and graphs. Table.1 gives the
comparison of properties of OPC and micro silica. Table.2
gives the various combinations of mixes tried in the
investigation. The respective quantities of materials used
in these combinations are given in this table. Tables 3, 4
and 5 give the results of compressive, split tensile and

flexural strengths respectively for various mix

combinations. Figs. 1 and 2 gives the variations of
compressive strengths for various concrete mixes tested at
28 days.

Table.2 Quantities of Material required for one cubic

metre of concrete

3.2. Workability of Fibrous Micro Silica

Concrete
In general, workability is getting reduced as the
percentages of micro silica and steel fibres are increased.
M70 reference concrete mix without micro silica and fibre
required 0.5 percent of superplasticizer. As the admixture
and fibre are increased, the dosage of superplasticizer
required is more to maintain the required workability. A
maximum dosage of nearly 1.8 percent by weight of
cement was used at 20 percent micro silica and 1.5 percent
fibres in the present investigation.

3.3. Compressive Strength Results

Mix

Cement
in
Kg.

Fine
Aggregate
in
Kg.

Coa
rse
Aggregate
in
Kg.

Micro
silica
repla-

Steel
fibres
by

Wat
er

cement

in
litre

cement

in
Kgs.

in
Kgs.

by

volume

of
concrete

Super

plasti
ciser

conplast
Sp430
in
Lts.

M-70
(0,0)

526.00

538

1198

158

0.00

3.00

M-70
(5,0)

499.70

538

1198

158

26.30

3.42

M-70
(10,0)

473.40

538

1198

158

52.60

4.00

M-70
(15,0)

447.10

538

1198

158

78.90

5.00

M-70
(20,0)

420.80

538

1198

158

105.20

6.00

M-70
(0, 0.5)

526.00

538

1198

158

0.00

37.97

3.32

From the results of compressive strength (table .3) it can

be seen that the strength increased with increase in the
percentage of micro silica upto an optimum of 15 percent.
After this, the strength is decreased. With increase in the
percentage of steel fibres, there is increase in compressive
strength upto 1.0 percent by volume of concrete. The
strength decreases beyond this. This may be due to balling
of fibres. Hence for compressive strength the optimum
percentages of micro silica and steel fibre are 15 and 1.0
respectively. There is an increase of 26.67 percent over
the reference mix.

M-70
(5, 0.5)

499.70

538

1198

158

26.30

37.97

3.63

M-70
(10,0.5)

473.40

538

1198

158

52.60

37.97

4.63

3.4. Split Tensile Strength

M-70
(15,0.5)

447.10

538

1198

158

78.90

37.97

5.79

M-70
(20,0.5)

420.80

538

1198

158

105.20

37.97

7.00

M-70
(0, 1.0)

526.00

538

1198

158

0.00

75.95

3.63

M-70
(5,1.0)

499.70

538

1198

158

26.30

75.95

4.10

M70
(10,1.0)

473.40

538

1198

158

52.60

75.95

5.31

M-70
(15.1.0)

447.10

538

1198

158

78.90

75.95

6.78

M-70
(20,1.0)

420.80

538

1198

158

105.20

75.95

8.20

M-70
(0,1.5)

526.00

538

1198

158

0.00

133.92

4.00

M-70
(5,1.5)

499.70

538

1198

158

26.30

133.92

4.73

M-70
(10,1.5)

473.40

538

1198

158

52.60

133.92

6.21

M-70
(15,1.5)

447.10

538

1198

158

78.90

133.92

8.15

M-70
(20,1.5)

420.80

538

1198

158

105.20

133.92

9.90

As in the case of compressive strength, the results of split

tensile strength (Table. 4) follow the same pattern. But in
this case, the optimum values of microsilica and steel fibre
are 10 percent and 1.0 percent respectively. For this
combination, there is an increase of 22.22 percent over the
reference mix.

3.5. Flexural Strength

With increased percentages of micro silica and steel fibre,
the flexural strength increases till the optimum values of
10 percent micro silica and 1.0 percent steel fibre are
reached. At these percentages, there is a maximum
increase of 21.45 percent in flexural strength over the
reference mix.

3.6. Overall Observations

On the overall, it can be seen that micro silica used as
replacement to OPC helps in strength gain besides giving
other beneficial properties. Steel fibres used at an
optimum dosage not only improve the tensile and flexural
strengths but also help concrete in respect of crack
resistance etc. Fibrous silica fume concrete is an ideal
material for structural applications.

Table.3 Compressive Strength for 28 days in N/mm2 for

different percentage of micro silica replacement by cement
with different percentage of fibres by volume of concrete

Name of the
Mix

M70 (0,0)
M70 (5,0)
M70 (10,0)
M70 (15,0)
M70 (20,0)
M70 (0, 0.5)
M70 (5, 0.5)
M70 (10,0.5)
M70 (15,0.5)
M70 (20,0.5)
M70 (0, 1.0)
M70 (5,1.0)
M70 (10,1.0)
M70 (15.1.0)
M70 (20.1.0)
M70 (0, 1.5)
M70 (5,1.5)
M70 (10,1.5)
M70 (15,1.5)
M70 (20,1.5)

0
5
10
15
20

Compressive strength for

28 days
%
%
increa
increase
se
with
N/
with
referenc
mm2
refere
e to 0%
nce to
micro
base
silica
mix
0
71.90
0
6.4
76.50
6.4
10.1
79.24
10.1
10.74
79.62
10.74
6.81
76.80
6.81

0.5

0
5
10
15
20

76.50
82.00
85.27
87.00
83.70

0
7.2
11.46
13.72
9.4

6.40
14.04
18.59
21.00
16.41

1.00

0
5
10
15
20

81.98
87.82
90.44
91.08
88.00

0
7.12
10.32
11.10
7.34

14.02
22.14
25.76
26.67
22.39

1.5

0
5
10
15
20

70.47
76.00
81.50
81.96
79.00

0
7.84
13.32
16.3
12.1

-2.00
5.7
11.26
14.00
9.87

%
of
Fibr
es

% of
micro
silica

Table 5 Flexural Strength for 28 days in N/mm2 for

different percentage of micro silica replacement by
cement with different percentage of fibres by volume of
concrete
Split Tension for 28 days
Name of the
Mix

M70 (0,0)
M70 (5,0)
M70 (10,0)
M70 (15,0)
M70 (20,0)
M70 (0, 0.5)
M70 (5, 0.5)
M70 (10,0.5)
M70 (15,0.5)
M70 (20,0.5)
M70 (0, 1.0)
M70 (5,1.0)
M70 (10,1.0)
M70 (15.1.0)
M70 (20.1.0)
M70 (0, 1.5)
M70 (5,1.5)
M70 (10,1.5)
M70 (15,1.5)
M70 (20,1.5)

%
of

%
of

%
increase
with

silica

N/
mm2

% increase
with
reference
to 0%
microsilica

0
5
10
15
20

6.20
6.23
6.54
6.14
6.01

0
0.48
5.48
-0.97
-0.36

0
0.48
5.48
-0.97
-0.36

0.5

0
5
10
15
20

6.43
6.99
7.13
6.74
6.61

0
8.71
10.89
4.82
2.8

3.71
12.74
15.00
8.71
6.61

1.00

0
5
10
15
20

7.00
7.42
7.53
7.30
7.18

0
6.00
7.57
4.28
2.57

12.90
19.68
21.45
17.74
15.81

1.5

0
5
10
15
20

6.68
7.26
7.19
7.26
6.99

0
7.63
8.68
6.58
4.64

7.74
15.96
17.09
14.84
12.74

Fibr
es

micro

reference

to base
mix

Table.4 Split Tensile Strength for 28 days in N/mm2 for

different percentage of micro silica replacement by cement
with different percentage of fibres by volume of concrete

Split Tension for 28

days
Name of the
Mix

M70 (0,0)
M70 (5,0)
M70 (10,0)
M70 (15,0)
M70 (20,0)
M70 (0, 0.5)
M70 (5, 0.5)
M70 (10,0.5)
M70 (15,0.5)
M70 (20,0.5)
M70 (0, 1.0)
M70 (5,1.0)
M70 (10,1.0)
M70 (15.1.0)
M70 (20.1.0)
M70 (0, 1.5)
M70 (5,1.5)
M70 (10,1.5)
M70 (15,1.5)
M70 (20,1.5)

%
of
Fi
bres

% of
micro
silica

N/
mm2

% increase
with
reference
to 0%
micro
silica

0
5
10
15
20

4.95
5.26
5.66
5.36
4.97

0.00
6.26
14.34
8.28
0.40

with
referen
ce of
base
mix
0.00
6.26
14.34
8.28
0.40

0.5

0
5
10
15
20

5.16
5.40
5.80
5.51
5.10

0.00
4.65
12.40
6.78
-1.16

4.24
9.09
17.17
11.31
3.03

1.00

0
5
10
15
20

5.52
5.86
6.05
5.92
5.40

0.00
6.15
9.60
7.25
-2.17

11.50
18.38
22.22
19.59
9.09

1.5

0
5
10
15
20

5.14
5.40
5.80
5.50
5.00

0.00
5.06
12.85
7.00
-2.72

3.84
9.09
17.17
11.11
1.01

increase

Fig.1 Compressive Strength Vs percentage of Micro Silica

for different percentages of fibres in 28 days

Fig.3 Compressive Strength Vs percentage of Fibres for

different percentages of micro silica in 28 days

4. CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions on the present experimental investigations
are as follows.
1. In high strength concrete mixes like M70, use of certain
percentage of superplasticizer is necessary to maintain the
desired workability. Superplasticiser required with 15
percent micro silica and 1.0 percent fibres is upto 2
percent.

7. Manjrekar S.K. Use of Superplasticizers: Myths and

Realitythe Indian Concrete Journal, June 1994, pp 317320.
8. Mohammad Shamim Khan & Michal E. Ayers :
Minimum Length of Curing of Silica Fume Concrete
ASCE, J. of materials in cvil engineering Vol. 7, No. 2
May 1995 pp 134-139.
9. Neville, A.M. Properties of Concrete4 th edition
published by Thomson Press (India) Ltd.

2. The various strengths are improved with cement

replacement by micro silica. Maximum compressive
strength s obtained with 15 percent micro silica. Whereas
10 percent is giving maximum split tensile and flexural
strengths.

10. Novokshchenov .V Factors controlling the

compressive strength of silica fume concrete in the range
100-150 MpaMagazine of concrete research. March
1992, 44, No. 158 pp 53-61.

3. Steel fibres upto 1.0 percent contribute towards strength

increase especially in tension and flexure.

11. Rama Krishnan and V. Srinivasan Performance

characteristics of fibre reinforced condensed silica fume
concreteSP 79, ACI Journal July/Aug. 1983.

4. With an optimum mix of 10 percent micro silica and 1.0

percent steel fibres, the compressive, split tensile and
flexural strengths are increased by more than 20 percent.
5. M70 concrete with 10 to 15 percent micro silica and 1.0
percent steel fibres is ideally suited for structural
applications.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors express their deep sense of gratitude to the
authorities of Vasavi College of Engineering, Ibrahimbagh,
Hyderabad, for the facilities provided in carrying out the
present research programme.

5. REFERENCES
1. ACI Committee, report 212 Guide for use of
admixtures in concrete ACI journal proceedings V-68
No.9 Sep 1971 pp 646-672.
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CementASCE journal of Materials in Civil Engineering,
August 2005 pp 379-383.
3. Handong Yan, Weisun, Huisu Chen The effect of silica
fume and steel fiber on the dynamic mechanical
performance of high strength concrete. Cement and
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4. Kumar Meha .P, Paulo J.M. Monteiro Concrete Micro
Structure, Properties and Materials, First Indian edition.
Indian Concrete Institute, Chennai.
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Silica Fume on the Strength Development of Concrete.
ACI Journal Sept 91-42.

12. Sabir, B.B High Strength Condensed Silica Fume

ConcreteMagazine of concrete research 45, No. 172 Sept
1995, pp 219-226.
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2002, pp 579-580.
14. Stefan Slanica The Influence of Condensed Silica
Fume on the Concrete StrengthCement and Concrete
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15. Ziad Bayabi Ting Zhou Properties of Silica Fume
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