Structural response of the E-SFRSCC slabs

Abstract

This paper explores the potentialities of the post-cracking response of steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete (SFRSCC) for the construction of flat slabs supported on reinforced concrete (RC) columns, designated as elevated SFRSCC slab (E-SFRSCC). For this purposes, an extensive experimental program was carried out to characterize the post-cracking behaviour of SFRSCC by using different tests setup in order to derive the most consistent approach for modelling purposes of this type of structures. Furthermore, a ¼ scale prototype of E-SFRSCC was built and tested for assessing the performance of this construction system under serviceability and ultimate limit state conditions. By taking the stress vs crack width response derived from the tests at the material level, as well as from inverse analysis, the applicability of two theoretical approaches for the design of this type of structures is discussed. One formulation is based on the yield line theory, while the other is supported in a constitutive model available in a software based on the finite element method for the material nonlinear analysis of fibre reinforced concrete structures.