Strength of FRC Corbels in Flexure

Abstract

Tests were carried out on 38150×150×200mm reinforced concrete corbels subjected to vertical loading. Steel fibers were used as shear reinforcement in 28 corbels. Parameters varied included volumes of main bars and fibrous reinforcements, effective depth or cover to main bars, and shear span. The tests confirmed earlier findings in that considerable improvement in ductility and strength of corbels resulted when the volume of fibers was increased. It was possible to change the mode of failure from being diagonal splitting or shear to flexure, when corbels were reinforced with relatively low volume of main bars. To estimate the flexural strength of reinforced concrete corbels subjected to vertical load, two methods, using a flexural model and a truss model, are presented. Comparison between the experimental and calculated strengths of corbels show that the two values obtained in each case are in satisfactory agreement.