A Programme of Comparative Tests on Plain Fabric Reinforced & Fibre Reinforced Concrete Ground Slabs

This paper reports on the first phase of a test programme which compares the performance of concrete ground slabs with (a) no reinforcement, (b) steel fabric reinforcement, (c) steel fibre reinforcement and (d) polypropylene fibre reinforcement. The slabs were 3.0m square, 0.15 and 0.13 m deep and subjected to a centrally applied static load with a contact area of 100 x 100 mm. The conclusions draw attention to the significant post cracking behaviour of slabs with fabric and steel fibre reinforcement, the possible need to re-appraise the Westergaard approach to slab design and the requirement for further test data relating to corner and edge loading and the influence of joints on load transfer.