Reinforced concrete folded plates (RC-FPs) are frequently used in structures such as industrial buildings, hangars, swimming pools, and sports halls due to their high load-bearing capacity, low self-weight, economic advantages, and architectural appearance. However, experimental studies on the reinforced concrete (RC) behavior of these new-generation structural members are very limited. For this purpose, this article investigated the effect of plate thickness and fiber hybridization on the flexural performance of V-shaped RC-FPs produced from self-compacting concrete (SCC). With this study, the experimental moment–curvature tool was used for the first time to evaluate the flexural performance of V-shaped RC-FP. A total of sixteen large-scale V-shaped RC-FP specimens with different plate thicknesses (50, 60, 70, and 80 mm) and fiber hybridization (single, binary, and ternary) were manufactured and subjected to a four-point loading after a 90-day curing period. After the experimental load–deflection and moment–curvature curves were obtained, load-bearing capacity, toughness, curvature ductility, and effective flexural stiffness values were calculated and also showed in the crack patterns for all large-scale V-shaped RC-FPs. The empirical equations with high-precision have been developed using multiple linear regression analysis for predicting the load-bearing capacity, toughness, curvature ductility, and effective flexural stiffness of V-shaped RC-FPs based on the parameters of plate thickness and fiber hybridization. Consequently, the use of hybrid fiber-reinforced SCC in the production of V-shaped RC-FPs exhibited superior properties in terms of flexural performance and crack behavior, as well as allowing for accelerated erection of the roof carrier system, resulting in significantly reducing construction time and costs. Also, fiber reinforcement rather than an increase in plate thickness induced significant increases in the flexural performance values of the V-shaped RC-FPs, while ternary fiber hybridization was the best.
Read full abstract