Research Progress and Engineering Application Prospects of Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Steel Slag Powder Ultra-High Performance Concrete: A Review

Haochen Yang; Guowei Ni; Bo Liu

doi:10.54691/cnx17g88

Authors

Haochen Yang School of Science and Technology, North China University, Tangshan 063210, China
Guowei Ni School of Science and Technology, North China University, Tangshan 063210, China
Bo Liu School of Science and Technology, North China University, Tangshan 063210, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/cnx17g88

Keywords:

Ultra-high performance concrete, steel slag powder, hybrid fiber, steel fiber, polypropylene fiber, PVA fiber, basalt fiber, toughness, sustainable concrete.

Abstract

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has attracted extensive attention in the field of advanced cement-based materials due to its superior mechanical properties, excellent durability, and potential for lightweight and high-performance structural applications. However, the widespread application of UHPC is still restricted by its high cement consumption, high production cost, and associated environmental impacts. The development of sustainable UHPC through the incorporation of industrial solid wastes has therefore become an important research direction. Steel slag powder, as a major by-product of the steel industry, possesses potential hydraulic activity and micro-filling effects, making it a promising supplementary cementitious material for partially replacing Portland cement in UHPC systems. Despite its excellent compressive strength, the highly dense matrix of UHPC results in inherent brittleness and limited deformation capacity. Fiber reinforcement has been widely adopted to overcome this limitation, and different types of fibers exhibit distinct strengthening mechanisms. Steel fibers mainly contribute to macro-crack bridging and post-cracking load-bearing capacity, while polymer fibers and basalt fibers provide effective control of micro-crack initiation and propagation. Hybrid fiber systems combining multiple fibers can achieve multi-scale crack control and improve the comprehensive mechanical performance of UHPC. This paper reviews recent advances in steel slag powder-based UHPC and hybrid fiber reinforced UHPC systems. The characteristics and utilization potential of steel slag powder are first discussed, followed by an analysis of hydration behavior, microstructure evolution, and its influence on UHPC properties. The reinforcement mechanisms of steel fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, and basalt fibers are summarized. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of hybrid fibers on mechanical properties, toughness, durability, and high-temperature resistance are systematically reviewed. Finally, the engineering application prospects, existing challenges, and future research directions of hybrid fiber reinforced steel slag powder UHPC are discussed. This review provides theoretical guidance for the development of sustainable, high-performance, and multifunctional cement-based materials.

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