Torsion in Beams Reinforced with Bars and Fibers

Abstract

An experimental investigation carried out to assess the effect of incorporating steel fibers on the torsional behavior of conventionally reinforced beams is reported. The study involved testing 24 beams, with partial or full replacement of longitudinal steel reinforcement and/or stirrups by an equivalent volume fraction of steel fibers. The tests revealed that the loads on first cracking observed on fiber‐reinforced beams were substantially higher than those obtained in similar beams with conventional reinforcement. Increases of up to 60% in the torsional capacity of beams were observed, when the stirrups were partially or fully replaced by an equivalent volume fraction of fibers.