Contribution of steel fibers to the flexural and shear behavior of RC beams damaged by alkali-silica reaction

TORRIJOS, M. C.; ZERBINO, R.; GIACCIO, G.; CUENCA ASENSIO, ESTEFANÍA; CONFORTI, A.

Structural Concrete

Wiley & Sons

Año: 2023 p. 1 - 14

1464-4177

The study of damage processes in concrete and their effects on the residualproperties represents a key point related to the service life of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The use of steel fibers in RC beams mainly improves thecracking control and the shear bearing capacity. Considering the shear behavior, the presence of fibers not only leads to partial or total substitution of secondary reinforcement, but they can also result in a modification of the failurebehavior from a shear failure (brittle) to a bending (ductile) one. The contribution of fibers on flexural and shear behavior of sound and damaged RC beamswas investigated using alkali-silica reaction as a damaging tool. First, the evolution of deformations and cracks were measured on creep tests of RC beamswith and without fibers and reactive aggregates. Second, the flexural and shearbehavior of damaged and undamaged beams incorporating steel fibers werecompared. Results showed that alkali-silica reaction damage can provoke areduction of RC beam ductility, while the flexural strength is preserved.Regarding shear, it was observed that even in damaged concrete, fibers wereable to control the crack propagation and increase the bearing capacity.