Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to determine the influence of the randomly oriented discrete
steel fibres on the bearing capacity of plain concrete through testing concentrically loaded
150mm square prisms. The concrete strength, ratio of total area to loaded area, height of
prisms, dimensions and fibre percentage were varied throughout the investigation.
It was found that the bearing capacity increases with the concrete strength and the ratio of
the total to loaded area both for the plain and for the fibrous concrete.
It was also found that the bearing capacity of steel fibrous concrete was significantly higher
than that of unreinforced concrete, and showed ductile mode of failure and retained their
integrity also at failure. It was also found that the bearing capacity of fibrous concrete
increases with the aspect ratio of the used fibres.
Prediction of the bearing capacity both for the plain and fibrous concrete using the limit
theorems of perfect plasticity showed fair agreement with the experimental results.
KEYWORDS: Bearing capacity, concrete, limit theorem, plasticity, steel
