EFFECT OF STEEL FIBER AND WEB OPENINGS ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF DEEP BEAM RAKESH SHIVAJI MAWAL

Deep beams are crucial for supporting heavy loads and providing overall structural stability. In modern construction, reinforced concrete (RC) deep beams often incorporate openings to accommodate electrical wiring, sewage lines, and air conditioning ducts. However, while these perforations facilitate utility passage, they also contribute to increased deflection and cracking, potentially reducing the beam’s strength and stiffness. These openings disrupt the nonlinear stress distribution across the beam’s depth by creating geometric discontinuities. Numerous researchers have examined the effect of aperture size on the structural performance of deep beams. An experimental analysis into how web opening configurations affect the load-carrying capability and serviceability of RC deep beams is presented in this work. Additionally, it evaluates the performance of various steel fiber volume fractions 0%, 0.5%, and 1% in RC deep beams with web aperture. Four deep beams were cast and tested. Symmetrical circular web openings are provided at the midspan. All beams were loaded to failure to assess the impact of steel fiber volume and web opening position on ultimate load capacity, stain energy stored, cracking behavior, and deflection. The ratio of shear span and total depth was maintained one throughout the study. The results indicate that increasing the steel fiber volume percentage enhances the ultimate load capacity. Among the tested specimens, 1% steel fiber volume fraction provided the best balance between material efficiency and strength improvement. The experiment's findings also show that the location of web apertures has a significant impact on the shear capacity of deep beams. In steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) deep beams, the middle of the tension zone is the best place for apertures. By highlighting the significance of strategically placing web holes and incorporating steel fiber to maximize the structural performance of RC deep beams, this study provides engineers and designers with insightful information.