Title:
Serviceability Limit State Design of SFRC Members
Author(s):
Amin, A.; Gilbert, R.I.
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
343
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
351-360
Keywords:
Steel fibre, concrete, serviceability, deflections, crack widths.
DOI:
Date:
10/1/2020
Abstract:
A significant body of research is available on the strength of steel fibre reinforced concrete
(SFRC) members subjected to shear and flexure. The behaviour of SFRC under service loads
has received less research attention. As the fibres are capable of transmitting tensile stress
across a crack, the average tensile strain at a crack in a reinforced concrete member
containing fibres is less than that in a similar member without fibres. As a result, the cracking
and deformation characteristics of reinforced concrete structures can be significantly
improved by adding fibres to the concrete mix. This paper first describes a physically
rationale model of the tension stiffening behaviour of SFRC. With this behaviour quantified,
expressions suitable for the design of SFRC members are derived for the control of
instantaneous deflections and crack widths. Finally, a short example is provided.