ABSTRACT
Abstract The paper outlines an analytical model for predicting the flexural response of steel fibre reinforced sprayed concrete (SFRC). This model is based on a stress-block diagram approach to represent the stress distribution across a propagating crack under increasing flexural load. An experimental testing programme is being undertaken with a wet process steel fibre reinforced concrete mix, including single fibre pull-out tests, flexural tests, compression tests and strain analysis tests, in order to develop relationships which can then be used in the model to predict the stress-block diagram for any given beam deflection. The single fibre pull-out test is described in which the fibre is embedded and then pulled from an uncracked matrix. The test allows a wide range of fibre orientations and embedded lengths to be investigated. The implications of the results are discussed, both for the model and more general for the testing of SFRC and its design. Keywords: flexural strength, modelling, pull-out tests, sprayed concrete, steel fibres, wet process.
