Abstract Steel fibers are increasingly used as an alternative to conventional shear reinforcement in reinforced concrete elements where the use of stirrups is impractical. Nevertheless, experimental research addressing the shear behavior of steel fiber–reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams subjected to combined axial tension and shear remains limited, and current design codes do not provide explicit guidance for this interaction. This study presents an experimental investigation on SFRC beams with a constant shear span‑to‑depth ratio (a/d = 2.5) subjected to varying axial tension‑to‑shear ratios (T/V = 0.0, 1.0, 3.0, and 4.5), steel fiber volume fractions (V f = 0%, 0.5%, and 1.0%), and longitudinal reinforcement ratios (ρ l = 1.49%, 1.89%, and 2.51%). The experimental results indicate that T/V ratios below 1.0 exhibit a negligible influence on shear response, whereas higher T/V ratios lead to notable reductions in diagonal cracking load, ultimate shear strength, and stiffness, along with significant changes in crack patterns. The inclusion of steel fibers enhances shear capacity through crack bridging and improved post‑cracking behavior, resulting in reduced brittleness and improved ductility. In addition, increasing the longitudinal reinforcement ratio further contributes to enhanced shear resistance and crack control. Based on the experimental observations, a regression‑based equation is proposed to estimate the shear stress of SFRC beams subjected to combined axial tension and shear within the investigated parameter ranges. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of tensile force–shear interaction in SFRC beams and provide a basis for future experimental validation and potential incorporation into design practice.
Elkahki et al. (Fri,) studied this question.