Production of SIFCONs: Effect of Mixing Techniques on Mechanical Performance

Slurry-infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) is a special type of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) characterized by its relatively high fiber content; therefore, it requires a special fabrication method to ensure homogeneity between the fibers and the matrix. In this study, five mixing techniques were used to produce SIFCON (sustainable slurry with micro steel fibers) to highlight the effect of the fabrication method on its mechanical properties. The fibers were placed in one layer, two layers, and three equal layers, while two other techniques involved mixing all or part of the fiber content with the slurry. These latter two techniques recorded the best performance at 28 days, with improvements of 20.8% and 22.3% in dry density, and 30.8% and 47.7% in compressive strength, respectively. Meanwhile, the other methods showed either a reduction or a gradual improvement. In addition, visual observations were recorded for certain mixing techniques, which may directly influence the efficiency of this type of fiber-reinforced concrete.