Fibrous Reinforced Concrete Slabs

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a theoretical and an experimental work performed at the Khartoum
University, Civil Engineering Department Structure lab. The work aimed to obtain knowledge concerning the
influence of steel fibers on the behaviour of reinforced concrete slabs. A comparative study was conducted
theoretically and experimentally. In the experimental work, tests were conducted on six simply supported slabs,
which were divided into three groups according to steel fiber contents 0%, 1%, and 2% by volumes, each group
contained two slabs, one isotropically reinforced and the other orthotropically reinforced. All slabs were subjected
to uniformly distributed load. The deflections were measured using displacement transducers, which were
positioned at different locations on the bottom surface of concrete slab. The strains were also measured using
strain gages embedded on reinforcement surface at different locations and glued on the top and bottom concrete
surface. The failure modes were observed and the load was recorded using load cell. The instruments were
connected to TDS303 Data Logger. The performance of the specimens is analyzed and compared with the
theoretical investigations using BS 8110 Codes and yield line method based upon calculations of the moment of
resistance and load carrying capacity respectively. The deflection, curvature and strain were calculated based on
the elastic theory through the area moment theorems and partially cracked section. It was found that the steel fiber
content had an influence ranging from little to significant on the tested behaviours of slabs. Good correlation of
theoretical and experimental results was clearly noticed when compared to each other.