Punching Shear in Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete Slabs Without Traditional Reinforcement

Abstract

The punching shear capacity of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) slabs without traditional steel bar reinforcement was investigated by conducting central point-load tests on twelve square slabs. The test parameters covered fibres with different multi-hook ends, concrete compressive strength, reinforcing index and slab thickness. The statistical performance of two existing models for the prediction of punching shear capacity of SFRC slabs without traditional reinforcement was examined. The load carrying capacity of these slabs were also assessed using the yield line theory. It is noted that the slabs failed primarily in flexure and the yield line theory predicted the load carrying capacities of the slabs most accurately. The reason for a flexural failure in SFRC slabs without steel bars is attributed to the lesser energy required in the propagation of an existing flexural cracks than in the creation of a new circumferential cracks around the column face. © 2017 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.