Flexural response predictions for ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete beams

Abstract

This paper proposes a method for predicting the flexural response of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) beams, including an experimental test framework and associated numerical analyses. The experimental programme includes compressive and tensile tests at the material level and a beam test at the structural level. Detailed experimental test results for the flexural behaviour of UHPFRC beams are also provided. An analytical method is described to predict the structural response of UHPFRC to bending, and this method is applied to interpret the experimental test results. The study focuses primarily on the bending behaviour of UHPFRC beams. The analytical model for the bending behaviour of beams takes tensile softening into account. Tensile softening is simulated using the fictitious crack model and calculated by inverse analysis using the load–crack-mouth-opening displacement (CMOD) relationship. Test data and numerical analysis results for the moment–curvature relationship are compared, and results suggest a reasonable agreement for beams of different rebar ratios. The comparative results confirm that the bending strength of UHPFRC beams can be accurately predicted by employing the proposed method.