Experimental and numerical simulation study on flexural performance of high-strength reinforced concrete beams under static loading

Abstract

In recent years, high-strength steel bars (HSSB), such as hot-rolled ribbed bars (HRB) and heat-treated ribbed bars (HTRB), have been promoted and used in reinforced concrete (RC) structures worldwide. There is still some controversy in existing research regarding the crack development process, failure modes, and the applicability of current code-specified calculation formulas for high-strength RC beams. The study of the mechanical properties of high-strength RC beams is of great significance in promoting the development of construction engineering science. In order to investigate the flexural behavior of high-strength RC beams, four-point bending static loading tests were carried out on 11 groups of RC beams with different parameters (reinforcement strength, concrete strength, and reinforcement ratio). The test results indicate that the crack development process and failure mode of high-strength RC beams exhibit obvious bending failure characteristics. Increasing reinforcement strength and reinforcement ratio significantly improves the bearing capacity of the beams, while the impact of increasing concrete strength on the beam's capacity is relatively small. The applicability of the calculation formulas in the current codes was analyzed, it was found that the yield moment formula in the current code accurately predicts the yield moment of high-strength RC beams, and the formula for calculating the maximum crack width was modified by proposing the maximum crack width adjustment factor kω. Subsequently, the failure process of high-strength RC beams was simulated using explicit dynamic finite element software LS-DYNA. Parameterized analyses were conducted to broaden the research scope. The ultimate moment prediction factor ku was proposed and a formula that can accurately predict the ultimate moment of high-strength RC beams was established.