Acta Scientiarum Polonorum

Abstract: The Department of Building Structures Bialystok University of Technology conducts scientific research to clarify the possibility of partial or total replacement of stirrups by steel fibers. Research was carried for reinforced concrete beams with one or two spans. There were investigated three series A models single-span reinforced concrete beams made with steel fiber content of 1.5% (by volume) and differentiated steel stirrups spacing on both sides of the beam. Failure mode by shear was achieved almost in all the beams. The results showed increased of shear capacity of fiber reinforcement concrete beams up to 50% compared to the beams without fibers. The next series B had fifteen two-spans reinforced concrete beams with the addition of steel fibers. Designed the same tensile reinforcement, stirrups in a varied spacing and steel fibers in an amount by volume of 0, 1.0, 1.5%. Research of model reinforced concrete beams with mixed reinforcement showed an increase in the shear capacity of all the test series. Maximum capacity increase of 100.7% occurred for beams of series B1,5-50/0. Steel fibers improve the load capacity, crack resistance and reduce deflection. The addition of fibers changes the nature of the behavior of the structure in the quasi-plastic and therefore extending the time to complete destruction.