Experimental Investigation on Structural Shear Behaviour and Mechanical Characteristics
\nof Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Beams Without Stirrups<\/p>\n
ABSTRACT
\nReceived: 4 October 2024
\nRevised: 13 January 2025
\nAccepted: 20 January 2025
\nAvailable online: 31 March 2025
\nReinforced concrete beam (RCB) is used in a wide range of construction systems as one
\nof the primary elements to bear various loads. This paper utilised an RCB to study and
\nevaluate the hooked-end steel fiber structural behaviour; in addition, the mechanical
\ncharacteristics of mixtures were also evaluated. In total, four concrete mixtures were
\nutilised; three mixtures were prepared by different volume fractions (vf) of hooked-end
\nsteel fiber 0.5% S.F., 1.0% S.F., and 1.50% S.F., in addition to the mixture without the
\npresence of steel fibers (0% S.F.) as a control mixture. The mixture was referred to as
\na group; each group included one RCB with a cross-section area of 120\u00d7120 mm and a
\nlength of 1000 mm, as well as four standard cubes, cylinders, and three prisms. The
\nexperimental results indicate that the increase in the hooked-end steel fiber vf ratio in
\nRCB significantly improves load-carrying capacities and structural behaviour when
\ncompared with non-fibrous RCB. The mechanical results approach that the higher vf of
\n1.50% hooked-end steel fiber produced a higher tensile strength of 6.36 MPa and a
\nhigher flexural strength of 10.35 MPa, resulting in an increase of 71.89% and 116.5%
\nin the splitting tensile strength and modulus of rupture, respectively. Also, in terms of
\nstructural shear performance, the load capacity of the RCB with 1.50% vf reinforced has
\nincreased by 70.13%, with a reduction in mid-span deflection of 39.64% as compared
\nto the RCB without steel fiber. On the other hand, the presence of fibers in 0.5 and 1.0%
\nvf had a negative impact on compressive strength, while 1.50% of steel fiber showed a
\nslight improvement and increased by 6.70% on it. These findings have practical
\nimplications for the construction of RCBs, as they demonstrate the potential for
\nimproving shear and flexural strength through steel fiber reinforcements.<\/p>\n\n
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