Fatigue behaviour of steel fiber reinforced concrete

The results of an experimental investigation on the fatigue characteristics and residual strength of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) are reported. The testing program included flexural specimens as well as split-cylinders and cubes reinforced with two fiber types at a low volume content. One of the fibers was of the deformed slit-sheet type available at aspect ratios of 45 and 60. It is shown that SFRC has a better fatigue response than plain concrete and that the deformed slit-sheet fiber has an effect almost identical to hooked-end fiber of similar dimensions. There is no increase in residual strength measured by split-tension when specimens are subjected to fatigue stress above the endurance limit. Fatigue characteristics of SFRC from this testing program as well as previous works can be interpreted as a function of the fiber factor (i.e. a parameter accounting for volume fraction, aspect ratio and fiber type) to provide design charts. More experimental work is needed to provide an acceptable database for fatigue design of SFRC.