Paper number 436

THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHORT FIBERS ON THE BEHAVIOR AND STRENGTH OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS

José M. Calixto1, Landry S. Vidal Filho1, and Carla M. Gonçalvez1

1Departamento de Engenharia de Estruturas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Avenida do Contorno, 842 - CEP 30110-060 - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brasil

Summary The results of an experimental investigation of the effects of short fibers on the behavior and strength of simply supported reinforced concrete beams are presented. Three different types of fiber were used. They were made of steel, in two cases, and nylon. They had different shapes as well as lengths and cross-sections. Four series of reinforced concrete beams were cast and tested in the laboratory. In each series a different type of fiber and its proportion in the concrete mix were employed. The test results indicate expressively the better performance of the beams made with steel fibers. These beams exhibited smaller crack width and spacing and consequently more stiffness and load carrying capacity. The results also indicate an increase in the load capacity of the shear mechanisms of the concrete. In this study, the steel fibers employed had a better performance than the nylon ones.
Keywords reinforced concrete beams, short fibers, strength, behavior.

Theme : Cement matrix composites ; Characterisation and Modelling

[ HOME ]  [ BACK ]