Simplified shear-strength prediction models for steel-fibre-reinforced concrete beams

Analytical models are proposed to predict the shear strength of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete beams from existing experimental results of 222 such beams without stirrups. The beams were sorted into six different types based on ultimate strength of concrete, span-depth ratio and shape of the steel fibres (plain, crimped and hooked). A genetic-algorithm-based approach was used to predict the most feasible equation to estimate the shear strength of each group of beams accurately. A variety of statistical analyses for each suggested model was performed and compared with the results of existing studies in predicting the beams' shear capacity. The proposed empirical models were able to assess the shear strength of beams more accurately than previously developed models.