Shear Strength of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Ultrahigh- Performance Concrete Beams without Stirrups

While the database of tests on shear in reinforced concrete members without stirrups is extensive, the pool of test data for fiber-reinforced specimens is limited. Fewer still are tests undertaken on high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete members with the fiber concrete designed to carry the full shear capacity. This paper reports the results of a testing program on ultrahigh-performance steel fiber-reinforced concrete beams. Eight prestressed concrete beams were tested in shear with the test variables being the shear span-to-depth ratio and the quantity and type of steel fibers. The results of the tests, together with additional tests reported in the literature, are compared to the values derived from the plastic shear variable engagement predictive model for the determination of shear strength of steel fiber-reinforced concrete beams. A good correlation is observed with a mean model to experimental strength ratio of 0.92 and coefficient of variation of 0.12.