Comparative Numerical Study between /Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete and SIFCON on Beam-Column Joint Behavior

This paper presents a nonlinear finite element analysis of RC beam-column joints. A numerical study carried out through a simulation on beam-column joints failed in flexure presented by experimental study. A verification procedure was performed on two joints by finite element analysis with ANSYS APDL. The verification with the experimental work revealed a good agreement through the load-displacement relationship, ultimate load, and displacement, and crack pattern. Also, the parametric study was implemented which including strengthening the concrete members by a variable ratio of steel fibers with normal ratios (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) and ratios of slurry infiltrated fiber concrete SIFCON (steel fibers up to 4%, 6%, and 8%) in addition to using of partial and full strengthening with and without stirrups. The test results revealed that steel fibers enhanced the flexural strength and ductility of the tested joint. Increase the ratio of steel fibers increased the flexural capacity by (101%, 153%, 177%, and 193%) for the four normal ratios of steel fibers respectively. SIFCON concrete ratios (4%, 6%m and 8%) enhanced ultimate strength by (521%, 802%, and 906%) respectively. The use of steel fibers reinforcement instead of steel rebar enhanced the ultimate load capacity by (101%) with large displacement. Full strengthening method by use of SIFCON presented pure flexural failure with cracks spread in the joint region but use the SIFCON concrete as a partial strengthening changed the failure mode to the shear failure.