Rheology of fiber-reinforced cement systems using a custom built rheometer

Fiber reinforcement can be used to enhance the mechanical performance and durability of cement-based materials. However, incorporation of fibers can have an adverse effect on the fresh state properties of these materials. To use fiber reinforcement effectively, the effect that fibers have on the rheology of cement-based composites must be understood. In this work, a custom designed and built parallel plate rheometer is used to evaluate the fresh state properties of stiff cementitious systems. Previous work showed that this rheometer produces reasonable results and that the parameters obtained with the rheometer compare well with other established values. In this work, the rheometer is used to study a variety of stiff cementitious systems. The effect of water and sand content on the rheology of cement paste is determined. Finally, the fresh state characteristics of stiff steel fiber-reinforced cement paste is evaluated and conclusions are drawn about the influences of the reinforcement on flow behavior.