The effect of steel fiber type and content on static compressive and splitting tensile strength of
concrete was assessed for normal, medium and high strength concrete. Two different steel
fibers, namely, hooked end and corrugated fibers, and five fiber contents by volume (i.e. 0.5,
1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5%) were the main variables. It was observed that the compressive and
splitting tensile strengths increased with the addition of fibers. However, the rate of increase
was dependant on the type of concrete (normal, medium or high), fiber type and fiber content.
The highest increase in compressive and tensile strength was observed for medium strength
concrete when reinforced with 2.5 % hooked end fibers, namely 54 and 140%, respectively.
The increase in splitting tensile strength was, in some cases, triple that observed for the
compressive strength. The considerable increase in strength observed in this study is due to
the use of a superplasticizer and/or silica fume in the mixes with fibers. This helped in the
efficient preparation of the samples and improved the bond between the fibers and matrix,
which in turn improved the measured strength.