THE EFFECT OF STEEL FIBERS AND EPOXY-COATED REINFORCEMENT ON TENSION STIFFENING AND CRACKING OF REINFORCED-CONCRETE

This paper presents the tensile behavior of 12 concrete members each r einforced with one No. 15 bar. The variables included normal- versus h igh-strength concrete, with and without steel fibers and with and with out epoxy coating. In addition, two different thicknesses of epoxy coa ting were investigated. Steel fibers significantly increased tensile s trength, ductility, and tension stiffening of concrete. The presence o f steel fibers reduced the crack width in both normal- and high-streng th concrete. No splitting cracks were observed in the specimens constr ucted with steel fibers. Specimens reinforced with epoxy-coated bars s howed larger crack widths than specimens reinforced with uncoated bars .