{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]],"date-time":"2026-03-30T22:15:43Z","timestamp":1774908943269,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,16]],"date-time":"2020-12-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1608076800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Deanship of scientific research, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University","award":["2020\/01\/16810"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2020\/01\/16810"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Materials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>For the efficient and durable design of concrete, the role of fiber-reinforcements with mineral admixtures needs to be properly investigated considering various factors such as contents of fibers and potential supplementary cementitious material. Interactive effects of fibers and mineral admixtures are also needed to be appropriately studied. In this paper, properties of concrete were investigated with individual and combined incorporation of steel fiber (SF) and micro-silica (MS). SF was used at six different levels i.e., low fiber volume (0.05% and 0.1%), medium fiber volume (0.25% and 0.5%) and high fiber volume (1% and 2%). Each volume fraction of SF was investigated with 0%, 5% and 10% MS as by volume of binder. All concrete mixtures were assessed based on the results of important mechanical and permeability tests. The results revealed that varying fiber dosage showed mixed effects on the compressive (compressive strength and elastic modulus) and permeability (water absorption and chloride ion penetration) properties of concrete. Generally, low to medium volume fractions of fibers were useful in advancing the compressive strength and elastic modulus of concrete, whereas high fiber fractions showed detrimental effects on compressive strength and permeability resistance. The addition of MS with SF is not only beneficial to boost the strength properties, but it also improves the interaction between fibers and binder matrix. MS minimizes the negative effects of high fiber doses on the properties of concrete.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ma13245739","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,16]],"date-time":"2020-12-16T09:21:15Z","timestamp":1608110475000},"page":"5739","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":77,"title":["Effect of Varying Steel Fiber Content on Strength and Permeability Characteristics of High Strength Concrete with Micro Silica"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2531-1505","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Babar","family":"Ali","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad\u2014Sahiwal Campus, Sahiwal 57000, Pakistan"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2429-4755","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rawaz","family":"Kurda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Highway and Bridge Engineering, Technical Engineering College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil 44001, Iraq"},{"name":"Scientific Research and Development Center, Nawroz University, Duhok 42001, Iraq"},{"name":"CERIS, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georresources Department, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Bengin","family":"Herki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Bayan University, Erbil 44001, Iraq"},{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Soran University, Soran 44008, Iraq"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3821-5491","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rayed","family":"Alyousef","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 16273, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"given":"Rasheed","family":"Mustafa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Knowledge University, Erbil 44001, Iraq"}]},{"given":"Ahmed","family":"Mohammed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0357-585X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ali","family":"Raza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Multan 66000, Pakistan"}]},{"given":"Hawreen","family":"Ahmed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Highway and Bridge Engineering, Technical Engineering College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil 44001, Iraq"},{"name":"Scientific Research and Development Center, Nawroz University, Duhok 42001, Iraq"},{"name":"CERIS, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georresources Department, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Muhammad","family":"Fayyaz Ul-Haq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad\u2014Sahiwal Campus, Sahiwal 57000, Pakistan"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116783","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2019.116783","article-title":"Influence of glass fibers on mechanical and durability performance of concrete with recycled aggregates","volume":"228","author":"Ali","year":"2019","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ali, B., Ahmed, H.H., Qureshi, L.A., Kurda, R., Hafez, H., Mohammed, H., and Raza, A. (2020). Enhancing the Hardened Properties of Recycled Concrete (RC) through Synergistic Incorporation of Fiber Reinforcement and Silica Fume. Materials, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma13184112"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2018.12.224","article-title":"Acid resistance and durability properties of steel fiber-reinforced concrete incorporating rice husk ash and recycled aggregate","volume":"202","author":"Koushkbaghi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1251","DOI":"10.1016\/S0008-8846(02)00768-8","article-title":"Prediction of splitting tensile strength of high-performance concrete","volume":"32","author":"Zain","year":"2002","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Res."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2019.01.094","article-title":"Combination effects of rubber and silica fume on the fracture behaviour of steel-fibre recycled aggregate concrete","volume":"203","author":"Xie","year":"2019","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139317","DOI":"10.1109\/ACCESS.2019.2943479","article-title":"Flexural Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Cemented Tailings Backfill under Three-Point Bending","volume":"7","author":"Cao","year":"2019","journal-title":"IEEE Access"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120820","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2020.120820","article-title":"Flexural behavior of glass fiber-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete and its impact on the cost and carbon footprint of concrete pavement","volume":"262","author":"Ali","year":"2020","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123180","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2020.123180","article-title":"Fresh and mechanical performance and freeze-thaw durability of steel fiber-reinforced rubber self-compacting concrete (SRSCC)","volume":"277","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120636","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2020.120636","article-title":"Combined effects of supplementary cementitious materials (silica fume, GGBS, fly ash and rice husk ash) and steel fiber on the hardened properties of recycled aggregate concrete","volume":"263","author":"Qureshi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"e00429","article-title":"Comparison of mechanical properties of concrete and design thickness of pavement with different types of fiber-reinforcements (steel, glass, and polypropylene)","volume":"13","author":"Hussain","year":"2020","journal-title":"Case Stud. Constr. Mater."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ahmad, W., Farooq, S.H., Usman, M., Khan, M., Ahmad, A., Aslam, F., Alyouef, R., Alabduljabbar, H., and Sufian, M. (2020). Effect of Coconut Fiber Length and Content on Properties of High Strength Concrete. Materials, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma13051075"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1617\/s11527-018-1279-8","article-title":"Influence of carbon nanotubes on steel\u2013concrete bond strength","volume":"51","author":"Ahmed","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mater. Struct."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8361","DOI":"10.1007\/s13369-019-04096-y","article-title":"Mechanical Characterization of Concrete Reinforced with Different Types of Carbon Nanotubes","volume":"44","author":"Hawreen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Arab. J. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100437","DOI":"10.1016\/j.coco.2020.100437","article-title":"Environmental and economic benefits of steel, glass, and polypropylene fiber reinforced cement composite application in jointed plain concrete pavement","volume":"22","author":"Ali","year":"2020","journal-title":"Compos. Commun."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2015.11.028","article-title":"Effects of steel fiber content and shape on mechanical properties of ultra high performance concrete","volume":"103","author":"Wu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Raza, S.S., Qureshi, L.A., Ali, B., Raza, A., and Khan, M.M. (2020). Effect of different fibers (steel fibers, glass fibers, and carbon fibers) on mechanical properties of reactive powder concrete. Struct. Concr.","DOI":"10.1002\/suco.201900439"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alabduljabbar, H., Alyouef, R., Alrshoudi, F., Alaskar, A., Fathi, A., and Mohamed, A.M. (2019). Mechanical Effect of Steel Fiber on the Cement Replacement Materials of Self-Compacting Concrete. Fibers, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/fib7040036"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1451","DOI":"10.1617\/s11527-011-9710-4","article-title":"Study of interfacial microstructure, fracture energy, compressive energy and debonding load of steel fiber-reinforced mortar","volume":"44","author":"Lee","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mater. Struct."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"700","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1151-2916.1996.tb07932.x","article-title":"Effect of Plasma Treatment of Polyethylene Fibers on Interface and ementitious Composite Properties","volume":"79","author":"Li","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Am. Ceram. Soc."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"504","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2018.06.158","article-title":"Flexural behavior and durability properties of high performance hybrid-fiber-reinforced concrete","volume":"182","author":"Teng","year":"2018","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compstruct.2017.08.086","article-title":"Influence of double hooked-end steel fibers and slag on mechanical and durability properties of high performance recycled aggregate concrete","volume":"181","author":"Afroughsabet","year":"2017","journal-title":"Compos. Struct."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2015.06.051","article-title":"Mechanical and durability properties of high-strength concrete containing steel and polypropylene fibers","volume":"94","author":"Afroughsabet","year":"2015","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"752","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2018.07.035","article-title":"Coupling effects of silica fume and steel-fiber on the compressive behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete after exposure to elevated temperature","volume":"184","author":"Xie","year":"2018","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"1","article-title":"Combined use of silica fume and steel fibre to improve fracture properties of recycled aggregate concrete exposed to elevated temperature","volume":"22","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Mater. Cycles Waste Manag."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconcomp.2013.11.006","article-title":"Compressive stress\u2013strain behavior of steel fiber reinforced-recycled aggregate concrete","volume":"46","author":"Carneiro","year":"2014","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Compos."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Song, W., and Yin, J. (2016). Hybrid effect evaluation of steel fiber and carbon fiber on the performance of the fiber reinforced concrete. Materials, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma9080704"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconcomp.2016.05.005","article-title":"Influence of silica fume content on microstructure development and bond to steel fiber in ultra-high strength cement-based materials (UHSC)","volume":"71","author":"Wu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Compos."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"C01 Committee (2018). Specification for Portland Cement, ASTM International."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"ASTM International (2015). ASTM-C39, Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens, ASTM International."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"ASTM International (2014). ASTM-C469, Standard Test Method for Static Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson\u2019s Ratio of Concrete in Compression, ASTM International."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"ASTM International (2017). ASTM-C496, Standard Test Method for Splitting Tensile Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens, ASTM International."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"ASTM International (2013). ASTM-C642-13, Standard Test Method for Density, Absorption, and Voids in Hardened Concrete, ASTM International."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116913","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2019.116913","article-title":"Durability of recycled aggregate concrete modified with sugarcane molasses","volume":"229","author":"Ali","year":"2019","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"649","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2018.09.036","article-title":"Performance evaluation of polypropylene fibre reinforced recycled aggregate concrete","volume":"189","author":"Das","year":"2018","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2019.01.221","article-title":"Analysis of potential use of fibre reinforced recycled aggregate concrete for sustainable pavements","volume":"218","author":"Chan","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ali, B., Raza, S.S., Hussain, I., and Iqbal, M. (2020). Influence of different fibers on mechanical and durability performance of concrete with silica fume. Struct. Concr., 201900422.","DOI":"10.1002\/suco.201900422"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1167","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconres.2003.12.023","article-title":"Effect of silica fume on steel fiber bond characteristics in reactive powder concrete","volume":"34","author":"Chan","year":"2004","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Res."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1442","DOI":"10.3390\/ma8041442","article-title":"Compressive Behavior of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete with End-Hooked Steel Fibers","volume":"8","author":"Lee","year":"2015","journal-title":"Materials"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1061\/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000372","article-title":"Compressive Behavior of Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete with a High Reinforcing Index","volume":"24","author":"Ou","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Mater. Civ. Eng."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"541","article-title":"The effect of wollastonite powder with pozzolan micro silica in conventional concrete containing recycled aggregate","volume":"24","author":"Keykhosravi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Smart Struct. Syst."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compositesb.2017.11.047","article-title":"The effect of steel and polypropylene fibers on the chloride diffusivity and drying shrinkage of high-strength concrete","volume":"139","author":"Afroughsabet","year":"2018","journal-title":"Compos. Part B Eng."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118058","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2020.118058","article-title":"The influence of steel fiber on water permeability of concrete under sustained compressive load","volume":"242","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."}],"container-title":["Materials"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/13\/24\/5739\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:45:55Z","timestamp":1760179555000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/13\/24\/5739"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,16]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"24","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]}},"alternative-id":["ma13245739"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ma13245739","relation":{},"ISSN":["1996-1944"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1996-1944","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,16]]}}}