Structural behavior of two-way slabs cast with different fiber types and contents

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the effects of incorporating Stainless-Steel Fibers (SSF) on the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete two-way slabs. For this deal, three types of steel fiber (straight, hooked, and corrugated steel fiber) are used. Each type of steel fiber was added in four different volume fractions. Each steel fiber shape was added separately by proportions (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5) % of the total concrete volume. Subsequently, ten 800 × 800 mm × 100 reinforced concrete slabs (three slabs for each type of fibers, one for each proportion, and the remaining one slab was the control) were cast and subjected to flexural tests. The effect of type and amount of SSF on flexural behavior of two-way slabs were studied. That, where 0.5% of steel fibers was added, the straight fibers were acknowledged in comparison to the others whereas the improvement to the stiffness was better and the ultimate load increased by 22.58%. At 1% of steel fibers, the ultimate load increased by (35, 43, and 29) % for straight, hooked, and corrugated fibers respectively which at this addition ratio the hooked fibers were the notable contributor as opposed to other types, and this observation was apparent in improving splitting and flexure strength for hardened concrete. Adding 1.5% of steel fibers to the concrete degrade the workability severely by (83-92)% for all types of steel fibers in parallel with little improvement on slabs behavior is contrary to 1% ratio, thus, the 1% is the recommended addition.