Replacement of Deformed Side-Face Steel Reinforcement in Deep Beams With Steel Fibers

The purpose of this study was to quantify the amount of steel fibers needed to supplement the minimum distributed side face reinforcement requirement for deep beams. The ability of steel fibers to supplant conventional reinforcement was quantified in terms of the serviceability performance or maximum diagonal crack width measured during testing. To achieve the goal of this study, the research plan included the fabrication and testing of nine 300 mm wide by 460 mm deep specimens with a shear span-to-depth ratio of 1.8. Experimental variables included the volumetric percentage of steel fibers and transverse web reinforcement. The diagonal crack widths for specimens were compared with one another and this relationship was used to quantify their serviceability performance. Upon completion of the proposed study, the authors observed that the serviceability performance of deep beams reinforced solely with fibers was equivalent to beams reinforced solely with conventional web reinforcement. The performance of beams reinforced with a combination of steel fibers and conventional reinforcement was further improved. These results provide preliminary support for replacing conventional web reinforcement in deep beams with steel fibers.