Punching shear strengthening of flat slab using SIFCON

Punching shear failure in flat slabs remains one of the most critical issues in reinforced concrete structures due to its sudden and brittle nature. This research investigates the potential of using Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete (SIFCON) as an alternative to traditional punching shear reinforcement in flat slabs cast from normal-strength concrete (NSC). The fiber type was hooked-end steel fiber with a fraction volume of 6%. Five square flat slab specimens were cast; the first specimen was cast using NSC. Four of them were reinforced with maximum flexural steel to ensure failure by punching shear. In two of these slabs, SIFCON was used as a whole slab, but since it is expensive to use SIFCON for entire slabs, in others, SIFCON was used partially over an extended area in a form similar to a plus sign shear reinforcement and full or partial depth to improve the resistance to punching shear. The data demonstrate that SIFCON, when applied strategically, is a highly effective material for increasing punching shear resistance and improving post-punching behavior and ductility. Providing a realistic alternative to standard reinforcement approaches.