INNOVATIVE STEEL FIBERS AND THEIR EFFECT ON FIBER DISTRIBUTION IN BEAMS – EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS

This contribution presents experimental investigations on fiber reinforced concrete (FRC). A new type of straight steel fibers (company Feel Fiber) with a length of 60 mm was used. 12 beams with a length of 6 m, a height of 0.4 m and a width of 0.5 m were produced, in order to determine the fiber distribution along them. The beams differ in the manufacturing method (cast in layers or from one side), the fiber content and the way of fiber addition. After concretes hardening, slices were cut of the beams to determine the number of fibers in the cross section. The results showed that the number of fibers per unit area scatters about 10%, independent of manufacturing method and type of fiber addition. Finally, the results are discussed and a proposal to modify certain factors in the German and Austrian guideline for fiber reinforced concrete is made, to take the advantages of this new fiber type into account.