Using Fibers instead of Stirrups for Shear in Ultra-High Performance Concrete T-beams

Transverse shear reinforcement is usually used to resist the induced shear stresses in conventional concrete beams. Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with fibres has high strength, post-peak strength, and strain softening. Such features can impact the behavior of the beam under loading. This paper presents the results of experimental tests performed on simply supported UHPC T-beams with basalt or steel fibres, with or without stirrups, subjected to four-point bending loads. The volume fraction of basalt fibres, the shear span, and the presence of stirrups are adopted as parameters. The possibility of achieving equivalent performance by using basalt or steel fibres, as shear micro-reinforcement, instead of using traditional steel stirrups is discussed from viewpoint of the beam structural behavior due to shear stress. The results show that the shear resistance increases with increasing fibre content and decreases with increasing shear span. The addition of basalt or steel fibres alters the fracture from brittle to ductile. Also, it is possible to partially replace the stirrups by using 1.0 % or more steel fibres or 0.5-1.0 % basalt fibres in the UHPC matrix. However, it is preferable to use a considerable ratio of shear rebars to avoid the dominance of shear failure.