Effect of steel fiber orientation on punching shear resistance of steel fiber reinforced cementitious composites round slabs

The slab-column structure is commonly used in civil engineering. At the slab-column joints, the load from the slab is transmitted to the column. In the extreme state, punching shear failure may occur at the joints, and the failure is brittle without warning. When the punching shear failure occurs at the joint of round slab and column, usually the cracking is a conical shape because the direction of tensile stress caused by punching shear is generally radial. By incorporating steel fibers into cementitious composites round slabs, the steel fibers can bridge the conical surface, and therefore enhance the punching shear resistance of round slabs. If the steel fibers in the round slab are dispersed in the direction conducive to the punching shear resistance, the steel fibers can take full effect of strengthening and toughening, thus improving the punching shear resistance of the slab. So, the purpose of this investigation is to improve the punching shear resistance of steel fiber reinforced cementitious composite slabs by maximizing the reinforcement of steel fibers on the composites. Firstly, a model of punching shear resistance of steel fiber reinforced cementitious composite round slabs was derived based on the Modified Compression Field Theory with consideration of the orientation of steel fibers. According to the model, the slab with radial distribution of steel fibers around the punching shear area shows the highest punching shear resistance. Secondly, the approach of radially aligning steel fibers in the slab around the punching area by magnetic driving is proposed using a self-developed magnetic device. And, radially dispersed steel fiber reinforced cementitious composites (JD-SFRC) round slabs were prepared. Thirdly, the punching shear resistance of JD-SFRC round slabs, as well as unidirectionally aligned (1D), two-dimensionally aligned (2D), and randomly distributed (RD) steel fiber reinforced cementitious composites round slabs were tested. At last, the effect of the orientation of steel fibers on the punching shear resistance and failure characteristics of the round slabs were analyzed by comparing the results from tests and the model. Meanwhile, the effect of the volume fraction of steel fibers on the punching shear resistance of the slab was examined. The results show that, When the volume fraction of steel fiber is 1.0 %, compared with RD-SFRC round slabs, the ultimate shear resistance of 1D-SFRC, 2D-SFRC and JD-SFRC round slabs is increased by 14 %, 15 %, and 24 %, respectively.