Shear-flexure coupling behavior of steel fiber-reinforced concrete beams

Although steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) has become a popular choice in construction due to its high-performance properties, the shear-flexure coupling behavior of SFRC beams has not yet been studied adequately. This study uses generalized modeling techniques to investigate shear-flexure coupling behavior of SFRC beams. Twelve SFRC beams were tested under low-to-high shear-to-moment ratios and with different quantities of longitudinal reinforcement and steel fibers. The study included both normal- and high-strength concrete with steel fibers. The results from the tests were used to validate the nonlinear modeling techniques developed for evaluating shear-flexure coupling effects in SFRC beams. Three different cases of transverse normal stress or strain profiles in the beam shear span were used in the analytical model, depending on the presence and extent of yielding of the longitudinal steel bars. The findings suggest that the shear-flexure interaction model accurately predicted the degradation associated with the shear behavior and ductility of SFRC beams. Directions for future research are discussed.