Key effects on the structural behavior of fiber-reinforced lightweight concrete-ribbed slabs: A review

Abstract

A concrete slab is one of the chief structural members in buildings, considered the most prominent member consuming concrete. Structural engineers are challenged to work on the new trend introduced using different slabs. One-way ribbed slabs are commonly used in construction due to their efficiency in spanning long distances while maintaining a low overall depth and giving the least possible number of columns. The main limitation of slab design in the construction of a reinforced concrete structure is the span between columns; a greater span between columns necessitates more supported beams or increased slab thickness; these requirements lead to an increase in the structure weight due to other concrete and steel which make the structure more costly. On the other hand, any increase in the structure’s self-weight limits the horizontal slab’s span, increases the structure’s stress, and raises the inertia forces that must be resisted. Lightweight aggregate concrete has been effectively utilized for structural applications for a long time. The density of lightweight concrete (LWC) is sometimes more essential than its strength in structural applications. The dead load is reduced for structural design and foundations when the density is lower for the same strength level. Reinforced concrete ribbed slabs have become increasingly popular in industry construction as an alternative to solid slabs in building structures. The incorporation of steel fibers facilitates flexural softening, which takes longer than sudden brittle failure, indicating its ability to increase energy absorption and improve crack behavior. Designing structures requires materials with higher strength-to-weight ratios. Ribs and LWCs are two leading sustainable assets. The world is moving toward sustainability by reducing the amount of concrete used and the overall weight of the unit. Studies have shown that the drop in compressive strength was about 4.85–65.55%. The structural performance of lightweight fiber-reinforced concrete slabs is influenced by the concrete mix ratio, fiber type and content, reinforcement detail, and rib geometry. The study provides valuable insights into the properties and performance of key effects on the structural behavior of fiber-reinforced LWC-ribbed slabs. It provides recommendations for future research and advancement of sustainable building methods.

Keywords

• fiber reinforcement
• lightweight concrete
• one-way slab
• ribbed slab geometry
• weight reduction