Parametric numerical study on jointless macro synthetic fiber reinforced concrete industrial floors (2023)

The demand for jointless industrial floors is increasing, but there are no relevant agreed-upon standards or design recommendations, particularly for floors made of synthetic fiber reinforced concrete. The primary challenge associated with jointless floors is controlling the cracking caused by the restrained movement of concrete due to shrinkage and temperature changes. In addition to predicting the stress and cracking that will arise from service loads, investigation of long-term effects requires significant attention. This study conducted a parametric numerical analysis of industrial floors, with typical joint spacings ranging from 6 to 25 m and a thickness of 200 mm evaluate long-term shrinkage and temperature effects under typical load conditions (Uniformly Distributed Load, UDL). Numerical studies were conducted using the ATENA finite element software, with the effects of fibers was modeled using the modified fracture energy method. The main goals of this study were to develop a practical design methodology and define the maximum acceptable crack-width during the lifetime of the floor. Additionally, the relationships among the geometrical dimensions, material properties, and loads of an industrial floor were depicted as a diagram, which can serve as a reference for designing joint distances.