Optimum Design of Conventional Sfrcs and Their Performance Classes

Abstract

For determining the performance classes of steel fiber reinforced concretes (SFRCs), their equivalent flexural strengths were investigated according to both Serviceability Limit State (SLS) and Ultimate Limit State (ULS). For a certain concrete class, the equivalent flexural tensile strengths depend on both the fiber volume fraction and the fiber aspect ratio. Performance classification of SFRCs can be made according to the parameters of concrete strength, the volume fraction and the aspect ratio of steel fibers. In order to obtain optimum solutions; equivalent flexural strengths, splitting tensile strength, fracture energy were maximized and cost of fibers were minimized simultaneously. Thus, numerical optimization was used to optimize any combination of either factors or responses. For the optimum mix design of SFRCs, three-level factorial experimental design and Response Surface Method were used.