Fatigue performance and damage of partially prestressed concrete beam with fiber reinforcement

Abstract

Ordinary concrete exhibits low strength and a propensity for cracking. Carbon fibers and aramid fibers, as materials characterized by high strength, high toughness, and excellent fatigue resistance, can effectively limit the propagation of micro-cracks and enhance the strength of concrete. To explore the influence of different fiber types on the fatigue performance of prestressed concrete beams, this study initiates from the perspective of beam components. Employing a combination of experimental research and theoretical analysis, it conducts bending and constant-amplitude fatigue tests on 12 prestressed concrete beams with various fiber types. Based on the stiffness of the beam section and residual strain, the damage evolution patterns of the tested beams were described. The results indicated that the utilization of fiber-reinforced concrete significantly improves the fatigue life and residual bearing capacity of the beam components. Specifically, the residual bearing capacities of beams reinforced with carbon fibers, aramid fibers, and hybrid fibers increased by 58.6 %, 49.5 %, and 64.9 %, respectively. The analysis revealed that residual strain is a suitable indicator for describing fatigue damage in specimens and recommends prioritizing the concrete residual strain index. These findings provided a theoretical basis for the application of fiber-reinforced concrete in practical engineering projects and lifespan assessment.