Experimental and numerical study on reinforced concrete deep beam in shear with crimped steel fiber

In the new era of construction Reinforced Concrete (RC) deep beams are usually the most common elements due to the small span-to-depth ratio. The usage of steel fibers with precise length and shape increase the strength and deformational characteristics of concrete. It also reduces reinforcement congestion due to eliminating the conventional stirrups. The deep beams behave as a tied-arch and transmit heavy loads mostly during arch action by creating a diagonal crack. The prediction of the shear strength of the deep beam is a complex phenomenon. This research work has compiled the experimental and analytical investigation to predict the shear behaviors of RC deep beams with crimped steel fiber. A total of eighteen RC deep beams and cubes were tested by varying three fiber volume fractions and two span-to-depth ratios. The comparative result analysis demonstrated that the efficacy of the proposed experimental analysis is superior to the inline methods proposed in the literature. Hence, no empirical equations are predicting the shear behavior of deep beams with crimped steel fiber accurately. From the experimental results, a nonlinear numerical model has been developed using MATLAB coding to predict the shear strength for fiber content between the ranges 0-3%. From the model, it is found that the correlation coefficient is one. Hence the numerical models developed are the best possible models. Finally, this research work concluded by presenting different failure patterns of deep beams. From the study, it is concluded that the shear behavior of RC deep beam with crimped steel fiber discovers the possibility of replacing shear reinforcement in conventional deep beams.