Title: Effect of Synthetic Macro-Fibers on Shear Behavior of Concrete Beams

Author(s): S.A. Altoubat, A. Yazdanbakhsh, and K.-A. Rieder

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 248

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 41-52

Keywords: beams; concrete; failure mechanism; macro-fibers; shear strength; synthetic fibers

DOI: 10.14359/19009

Date: 9/1/2007

Abstract:
This paper is part of an on ongoing research project involving testing of small and large-scale beams to investigate shear behavior of reinforced concrete beams with synthetic macro fibers. Six full-scale tests were completed on longitudinally reinforced concrete beams without stirrups. The size of the beam was 280 mm x 460 mm x 3200 mm and tested with a shear span to depth (a/d) ratio of 3.5. Synthetic macro-fibers were added at two volume fractions of 0.5 % and 0.75 %, which is equivalent to 4.6 and 6.9 kg /m3. Strains and deflection were measured under monotonic loading of the beams and cracking was also monitored. The test results show that the synthetic macro-fibers improved the first diagonal shear cracking strength and ultimate shear capacity of the beams. Ultimate shear capacity of the reinforced concrete beams was increased by 12 to 25 % depending on the dosage of synthetic macro-fibers used. Embedded strain gauges in the concrete beams indicated the fibers effectively distributed the load, improved tensile strain capacity and thus increased the shear capacity of the concrete beams. Load-deflection measurements show that synthetic macro-fibers improve the post-diagonal cracking stiffness and toughness of the concrete beams and reduce the brittleness of the shear failure.