High performance fibre reinforced concrete: Fundamental behaviour and modelling

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of X-ray imaging of steel fibre reinforced concrete in tension. The observations on fundamental behaviour and influences in the development of models for structural design are discussed. It is observed that crack paths find ways of least resistance through a section and divert around fibre ends, where possible. In large scale structural members where crack locations are not fixed by either geometry or load state, variability in fibre dispersion should be considered at the model level, rather than incorporated in materials or member safety factors. Based on image analysis, the fibre dispersion influence factor is quantified for the case where multiple cracking paths may occur.