A Comparative Study on the Shear Behavior of UHPC Beams with Macro Hooked-End Steel Fibers and PVA Fibers

Structural members made of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) have been attractive to engineers and researchers due to their superior mechanical properties and durability. However, existing studies were focused on the behavior of UHPC members reinforced with micro straight steel fibers at a volume fraction between 1 and 3%. There is a lack of studies on the influence of different types and amounts of fibers on the shear behavior of UHPC structural members. The objective of the study was to experimentally investigate the shear behavior of UHPC beams with macro hooked-end steel (MHS) fibers and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers, which are two of the most used fibers for high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. The shear behavior of ten large-scale non-prestressed UHPC beams was studied. The experimental parameters included the shear span-to-effective depth ratio, the fiber volume fraction, and the type of fibers. It was found that both MHS fibers and PVA fibers were effective in enhancing the shear performance of the UHPC beams whether the shear transfer mechanism was governed by arch action or beam action. Moreover, the measurement results of the average crack spacing imply the distinct difference in the fiber bridging effects of the MHS fibers and PVA fibers in the UHPC beams.

Automated summary

The shear behavior of UHPC beams can be enhanced by using MHS fibers and PVA fibers. The study shows that both types of fibers are effective in improving the shear performance of UHPC beams, whether the shear transfer mechanism is governed by arch action or beam action, and they exhibit distinct differences in fiber bridging effects.