Experimental analysis of static capacity of fibrous concrete cambered slabs after impact loading effect

Abstract

Fibrous concrete is an enhanced material by adding fibers to the ingredients of normal concrete. This addition improved some properties of the regular concrete, which are growing concrete ductility, decreasing concrete shrinkage, and raising concrete resistance to the dynamic attacks. The aim of this paper is more investigating the properties of fibrous concrete by finding out the effect of impact loading induced by a free fall ball on flexural capacity of fibrous concrete from one side, and finding out the importance of camber construction in reducing the influence of impact loading on the flexural capacity of concrete slabs from another side. For that purpose, three concrete slabs of (80X80X4) cm dimensions were dynamically and then statically loaded. The three specimens had the same steel fiber dosage of 0.5%, but they had different slab camber at the mid span where one specimen had no camber, the second specimen had 10 mm camber, and the third specimen had 20 mm camber. In addition to the difference in the slabs‘ camber, the three slabs were subjected to a different number of impacts and from various heights to get a better explanation. Tests results showed that presence of fibers and increasing slab camber caused an improvement in the specimen resistance to both of impact and flexural loads, decreased the specimen crack width and number, and provided a safer residence for tenants.