EFFECT OF STEEL FIBER ADDITION ON THE STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE: A REVIEW KEYWORDS

Abstract

Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is currently the material of choice for a broad range of structural components, offering the potential to replace conventional rebar reinforcement and improve load-bearing behavior, serviceability, and durability characteristics of engineering structures. [1] This review synthesizes recent peer-reviewed literature on the mechanical properties and structural performance of SFRC to establish the current state of knowledge and identify future research directions. The mechanical static behavior of SFRC classified by differences in mix design and fiber concentration shows that SFRC behaves differently depending on the length and fiber content, with ductility and first crack strength indices varying significantly. [2] Tensile strength and flexural behavior studies on 457 data points including 54 experimental measurements demonstrate that steel fiber content systematically varies from 0% to 2% with significant impacts on structural performance. [3] Findings show that flexural toughness, residual strength, and serviceability performance significantly improve while compressive strength gains are modest, and the study underscores the need for field-validated guidelines. [4] SFRC has become a feasible alternative material for traditional reinforced concrete segments due to its excellent crack resistance, toughness, and durability, though design parameters remain non-standardized. [5] This review evaluates mechanical properties, design methods, applications, and identifies critical research gaps for advancing SFRC technology in structural engineering.