Steel‐fibre reinforced concrete in composite structures as a mean to increase resistance and ductility – Outlook in a new generation of composite structures

Steel‐fibre reinforced concrete is a well‐known material used for decades for industrial floorings, shotcrete, or other specific applications. Its use is now spreading in structural applications as a complement or a substitute for conventional bar‐reinforced concrete since the normative framework is ready to provide design approaches for several concrete applications. Nevertheless, some adaptations are needed for implementing steel‐fibre reinforced concrete in the design approach for steel‐concrete composite structures whereby complementary aspects need to be considered. In this field, besides the increase of tensile properties and durability of the concrete member, a very important contribution may be given by the increase of the concrete ductility in compression. This property is conferred by the steel fibres which provide a confinement effect increasing the plastic damage that the concrete matrix can absorb. If this property is widely accepted, its benefits are limited for the design of conventional concrete sections. Conversely, for composite sections, the possibility to reach higher strains in compression means ensuring full exploitation of the strength capacity of structural steel. Besides reaching an optimisation of already in‐use cross‐sections, this new material combination enhances the use of higher structural steel strengths in composite structures.