Title:
Steel Fibers for Controlling Cracking
and Deflection
Author(s):
R.N. Swamy, S. Al-Taan, and Sami A. R. Ali,
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
1
Issue:
8
Appears on pages(s):
41-49
Keywords:
beam (supports); cracking (fracturing);
deflection; ductility; fiber reinforced concretes; flat
concrete slabs; metal fibers; punching shear; rein-forced
concrete; serviceability; stiffness; tests.
DOI:
Date:
8/1/1979
Abstract:
Tests are reported to show that the ability of fiber reinforcement to control cracking and deflection is a more important consideration in practice than im-provements in strength characteristics. Three types of tests with steel fibers are reported. In tests of notched beams in flexure, the fibers are shown to change the tensile cracking behavior from an inherently unstable and uncontrolled state into a slow, controlled crack growth. The presence of fiber reinforcement is also shown to increase the stiffness and reduce the deflection of conventionally reinforced concrete beams. It also enables higher grade steel and higher steel stresses to be used without the danger of excessive cracking and deflection. Tests on flat slabs are reported to show that substantial in-creases in shear resistance imparted by the fibers can be combined with greater integrity of the structural member after collapse and increased energy absorption characteristics. [Authors]