VALUTAZIONE SPERIMENTALE DELLA FESSURAZIONE DI TRAVI IN CALCESTRUZZO RINFORZATO CON FIBRE DI ACCIAIO E SINTETICHE

Many of the properties of Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) may be used to improve performances of reinforced concrete (RC) flexural beams. It is well known that fibers embedded into concrete matrix, enhance its ductility and toughness, increase its tensile performances, acting as crack arrestors. In particular, fibers are effective in modifying crack propagation, causing an higher number of cracks and consequently lower crack spacing values and narrower crack widths compared to the matrix alone. This effect could be exploited to improve durability of reinforced concrete structures, especially into aggressive environments..
In this work, an experimental research on the influence of short fibers on global and cracking behavior of conventionally reinforced concrete beams in bending, is reported. In particular, beams reinforced with steel and polyester fibers, together with ordinary steel reinforcement (bars and stirrups), has been tested in bending. The scope of this research is to investigate the role of the presence of fiber and the fiber type on the cracking behavior of the beams in terms of crack widths, crack length and crack spacing.