FLEXURAL STRENGTH BEHAVIOUR OF STEEL FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAM

Abstract

Cement concrete is the most utilized construction material globally. Its extensive use can be attributed to its ability to take any shape. Cement-based concrete is prone to microcracking, exhibits minimal tensile strength, possesses low ductility, and exhibits limited crack resistance. These factors combine to cause brittle concrete failure. Modern civil engineering projects must meet certain durability and structural requirements. Every structure has a specific function and conventional cement concrete must be adapted to these requirements. According to research, adding different types of fibers to concrete in a certain amount can improve the mechanical properties, serviceability and longevity of structures. Currently, a significant characteristic of steel fiber concrete (SFRC) is its exceptional resistance to crack initiation and propagation. The main goal of the research is to predict how an SFRC beam will behave in terms of flexural strength. Steel fibers mixed into concrete were used to cast 180 prisms (100 x 100 x 500 mm) and 360 cubes (100 x 100 x 100 mm). This study modifies the fiber content of 1%, 1.5% and 2% with different aspect ratios (50, 60 and 70) in concrete to investigate the influence of steel fibers on the strength of M30 grade concrete. To examine the impact of steel fibers, tests for compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength were conducted. The overall results indicate that mechanical strength development can be effectively achieved with steel fiber concrete with 1 mm diameter, aspect ratio of 70 and 1.5% steel fibers.