Crack Width Behaviour of High-Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete Slabs Affected by Steel Fiber Composition

Abstract

Abstract When a bending failure occurs, the crack width formula of a reinforced concrete element usually requires a parameter of relative crack depth (ξ) or a span-to-depth ratio (L/h). Using High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (HPFRC) increase material performance so the element thickness can be cut down and the relative crack depth can be raised. The research aims to investigate the HPFRC slab’s crack width, which is affected by a variation of steel fiber composition as a pure bending element based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics. The HPFRC materials use Portland pozzolana cement, sand, gravel, silica fume, water, superplasticizer, and the composition of steel fiber of 0,4%, 0,6%, 0,8%, and 1,0% based on the prediction weight of HPFRC slabs. The research generates the stress intensity factor and the crack width equation as a function of the relative crack depth of the HPFRC slab less than 0,90. The comparison between the crack width analysis on the HPFRC slab and the flexural test result on the HPFRC slab shows well conformity.