Techno Press
Techno Press

Structural Engineering and Mechanics
  Volume 76, Number 4, November25 2020 , pages 491-503
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/sem.2020.76.4.491
 


Comparison of macrosynthetic and steel FRC shear-critical beams with similar residual flexure tensile strengths
Francisco Ortiz-Navas, Juan Navarro-Gregori, Gabriel Leiva and Pedro Serna

 
Abstract
    This study extends previous experimental research on the shear behaviour of macrosynthetic fibre-reinforced concrete beams and compares them to steel fibre-reinforced concrete beams with similar mechanical and geometrical properties. This work employed two fibre types: 60/0.9 (long/diameter) double hooked-end steel fibre and 60/85 monofilament polypropylene fibre. Beams were tested by shear loading covering parameters, such as two different cross-section widths, two shear-span-to-effective-depth ratios, two fibre types and using repetitions with and without transverse reinforcement. For quantitative comparison purposes, crack pattern evolution was studied along increasing loads levels. Effects were studied by photogrammetry, including influence of fibres on crack propagation in uncracked and dowel zones, influence of fibres on stirrup behaviour, and shear deformation or kinematics of critical shear cracks. The results evidenced similar effectiveness for both fibre types in controlling shear crack propagation and horizontal dowel cracking. Both fibres provided similar shear ductility and shear deflections. Consequently, the authors confirm that residual flexural tensile strengths are a convenient parameter for characterising the shear behaviour of fibre-reinforced concrete beams.
 
Key Words
    fibre-reinforced concrete; shear-critical beams; macrosynthetic fibres; shear strength
 
Address
Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Hormigón (ICITECH), Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
 

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