Shear Performance of Steel Fibers in Reinforced Concrete Beams

Abstract

Over the past few decades, a significant growth was observed on utilization of steel fibers in Reinforced Concrete (R.C) members. Past research studies on hybrid concrete endorsed optimum utilization of steel fibers (1.5% by volume) as it effectively contributed to improve flexural properties of reinforced concrete members such as R.C beams and slabs .But the contribution of fibers against shear resistance mechanism of R.C beams are not identified well in the previous research. In this context an experimental program was conducted to find Shear contribution and associated Parameters of fibers in the Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) beams. A series of test programmes are conducted on three full scale reinforced concrete beams (NSF: No steel fibers, BSF1: Steel fibers in shear span, BSF2: Steel fibers in full span) with different configuration of shear reinforcement by using varied range of SFRC in the tested beam. The test results evaluated on the basis of strength and durability aspects at service loads and limit of failure conditions. The results concluded that the presence of steel fibers in reinforced concrete beam significantly contributed to induce shear resistance mechanism and ductile property of R.C beam. This improvement observed in BSF2, when the SFRC constituted in shear span region and the rest of R.C beam arranged with minimum conventional stirrups as shear reinforcement. Further the steel fibers possess good compatibility with concrete and steel reinforcement ,which enhance mechanical and serviceability conditions of R.C beam such as shear strength, ductility, stiffness with respect to strength and deflection, crack width during serviceability conditions of the beam.