Numerical analysis for the punching shear resistance of SFRC flat slabs

In this article, the performance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) flat slabs was investigated numerically. The influence of flexural steel reinforcement, steel fiber content, concrete compressive strength, and slab thickness were discussed. The numerical model was developed using ATENA-Gid, user-friendly software for non-linear structural analysis for the evaluation and design of reinforced concrete elements. The numerical model was calibrated based on eight experimental tests selected from the literature to validate the actual behavior of steel fiber in the numerical analysis. Then, a parametric study of 144 specimens was generated and discussed the impact of various parameters on the punching shear strength, and statistical analysis was carried out. The results showed that slab thickness, steel fiber content, and concrete compressive strength positively affect the punching shear capacity. The fib Model Code 2010 for specimens without steel fibers and the model of Muttoni and Ruiz for SFRC specimens presented a good agreement with the results of this study.