Research Article
Alaa M Morsy and El-Raki TM
Abstract
Twelve simply-supported steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) wide beams without conventional stirrups were tested to investigate their shear behavior. The flexure mode of failure was secured for all of the specimens to allow for shear mode of failure. The variables were fiber volumetric ratio, concrete compressive strength, longitudinal reinforcement ratio and shear span-to-depth ratio. Eight tested beams were steel fiber reinforced concrete wide beams and four beams were reinforced concrete wide beams without steel fiber for comparison purposes. End-hooked steel fibers of volumetric ratio ranging from 0% to 1.25% were used in the specimens. All beams were tested under four-point loading to investigate their behavior in shear, cracking pattern, ultimate capacity and ductility. Test results showed that the shear cracking, the ultimate shear strength and ductility increased with increasing fiber volumetric ratio, decreasing shear span to depth ratio, increasing concrete compressive strength and increasing longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The using of a dose of 0.75% fiber content in the wide beams without shear stirrups was adequate to achieve the ultimate resistance that is the same as the conventional RC wide beam with conventional stirrups. Evaluation of the ultimate shear strength of the SFRC wide beams based on previous models is presented.