Title:
Influence of Steel Fibers on Cracking Behavior of Ordinary Reinforced Concrete Structures
Author(s):
L. Vandewalle
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
193
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
467-487
Keywords:
beam; compressive strength; concretes; crack
DOI:
10.14359/5839
Date:
8/1/2000
Abstract:
The cracking behaviour of concrete beams having longitudinal tension reinforcement and various combinations of volume and aspect ratio of hooked end steel fibers was investigated experimentally. Eight full-scale beams have been tested. The section dimensions (200 x 350 mm2), span length (3250 mm), concrete compressive strength and longitudinal tension reinforcement were kept constant for all beams. The beams were tested at a cube compressive strength of about 40 MPa. The mechanical properties of the steel fiber reinforced concrete under tension were determined according to the Belgian standard NBN B15-238. The addition of steel fibers decreases both the crack spacing and the crack width. A greater reduction of the crack width, crack spacing respectively, can be noticed if steel fibers with a higher aspect ratio are used. Besides the experimental program also a theoretical study has been executed : a modification of the RILEM TC162-TDF-model to predict crack width is proposed.