Prediction and developing of shear strength of reinforced high strength concrete beams with and without steel fibers using multiple mathematical models

One of the methods to improve the structural design of concrete is by updating the factors given in standard codes, especially when non-conventional materials are used in concrete beams. Accordingly, this study focuses on the colorations between the compressive strength and shear strength of high-strength concrete beams with and without steel fibers. For that purpose, different models are proposed to predict shear strength of high-strength concrete beams, by taking different combinations of the main variables: beam cross-section dimension (width and effective depth), reinforcement index, concrete compressive strength, shear span ratio, and steel fiber properties (volumetric content, fiber aspect ratio, and type of steel fibers). Multi-linear and non-linear regression analyses are used with large database experimental results found in the literature. The predicted results from the proposed equations are composed with different available models from codes, standards, and literatures. The calculated results showed better correlations and were close enough to the experimental data. Based on the data given in the standard codes, the shear strength is proportional to compressive strength (fc′) of the power 0.5. However, this value may not be adequate for modern cement and concrete containing steel fibers. Therefore, the mentioned power value must be reduced 5 times to 0.1.