This study presents an experimental investigation into the shear strength of reinforced concrete (RC) beams devoid of shear reinforcement, incorporating crimped steel fibers and high-content fly ash as a partial replacement for fine aggregate. Twelve concrete mixtures were designed with fly ash replacement levels of 25%, 50%, and 75%, combined with steel fiber volumetric contents of 1% and 1.5%. Shear performance was evaluated through four-point bending tests on simply supported beams featuring varying shear span-to-depth (a/d) ratios. Integrating steel fibers and fly ash notably enhanced mechanical and shear resistance characteristics, with optimal behavior identified at 50% fly ash content and 1.0% fiber volume. Comparative assessment against prevailing code provisions indicated a trend of underestimation of shear capacity by most existing approaches. An empirical model is proposed, exhibiting excellent correlation with empirical results. Findings affirm the potential of utilizing high-content fly ash as a sustainable fine aggregate substitute in synergy with steel fibers, yielding enhanced structural efficiency and economic advantages.
Shariq et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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