Title: Fracture Characteristics of FRC Materials in Shear

Author(s): B. Barr

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 105

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 27-54

Keywords: cracking (fracturing); fiber reinforced concretes; tests; glass fibers; metal fibers; polypropylene fibers; shear strength; B. BARR

DOI: 10.14359/2017

Date: 12/1/1987

Abstract:
Paper reviews seven test specimen geometries that have been used to determine the shear performance of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) materials. All the geometries are modified standard quality control test specimens--modified cubes, beams, or cylinders. The performance of FRC materials can be characterized by two fracture parameters--fracture toughness, which gives the resistance to cracking, and toughness index, which quantifies the post-first-crack toughness. The shear strength results are similar for the various test geometries used in the study. The shear strength of steel FRC mixes is shown to be independent of fiber content, whereas the shear strength of polypropylene FRC decreases with increasing fiber content and the shear strength of glass FRC increases with increasing fiber content. The post-cracking toughness increases uniformly with increasing fiber content over the range of fiber contents studied. This increase in toughness is observed for all three fibers--steel, polypropylene, and glass fiber.