Development of a design method for the fracture performance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete by considering steel fiber characteristics and aggregate gradation

•A design method for steel fiber-reinforced concrete is proposed which can determine KIC and ft simultaneously.•Effect of parameters of steel fiber and concrete aggregate on cracking are considered.•Full fracture failure curves with 95% assurance rate for steel fiber-reinforced concrete are constructed.•Simplified analytical expressions between peak load and fracture toughness, and between peak load and tensile strength for steel fiber-reinforced concrete are established.