Title: Arching Action in Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Flat Slabs

Author(s): Akshay Venkateshwaran and Kiang Hwee Tan

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 115

Issue: 6

Appears on pages(s): 1765-1776

Keywords: arching action; bending theory; internal panel; load-carrying capacity; proposed model

DOI: 10.14359/51702447

Date: 11/1/2018

Abstract:
Due to arching action, the observed load-carrying capacities of internal steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) flat slab panels without traditional reinforcement were observed to be much greater than that calculated by bending theory. In this paper, a semi-analytical model is presented to determine the load-carrying capacity of internal, elevated SFRC flat slabs considering the influence of arching action. Predictions by the proposed model were accurate to within 2% of the average observed load capacities of prototype flat slab systems with a standard deviation of 0.16. Parametric studies carried out to examine the influence of volume fraction of steel fibers, compressive strength of concrete, span length, and slab thickness on the enhancement in load-carrying capacity of internal panels due to arching action indicate significant enhancement for panels with a lower dosage of steel fibers. Also, slabs with shorter spans and thicker sections exhibit greater enhancement in load-carrying capacity due to arching action.