Experimental investigation of chopped steel wool fiber at various ratio reinforced cementitious composite panels

The flexural toughness of chopped steel wool fiber reinforced cementitious composite panels was investigated. Reinforced cementitious composite panels were produced by mixing of chopped steel wool fiber with a ratio range between 0.5% to 6.0% and 0.5% as a step increment of the total mixture weight, where the cement to sand ratio was 1:1.5 with water to cement ratio of 0.45. The generated reinforced cementitious panels were tested at 28 days in terms of load-carrying capacity, deflection capacities, post-yielding effects, and flexural toughness. The inclusion of chopped steel wool fiber until 4.5% resulted in gradually increasing load-carrying capacity and deflection capacities while, provides various ductility, which would simultaneously the varying of deflection capability in the post-yielding stage. Meanwhile, additional fiber beyond 4.5% resulted in decreased maximum load-carrying capacity and increase stiffness at the expense of ductility. Lastly, the inclusion of curves gradually.