Displacement-controlled Loading Research Articles

Experimental investigation of EBROG and bore-epoxy anchorage methods used for interior RC beam-column joints strengthened with CFRP sheets

In severe earthquakes, the energy dissipation and ductility capacities of the structures depend on the performance of the beam-column joints where the load transfer is performed. Experiences in past earthquakes have shown that damage occurs in the beam-column joints that do not have sufficient strength and rigidity. In particular, the shear failure observed in deficient detailed joints has caused the collapse of many structures. Joints are effectively retrofitted with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets to increase the earthquake safety of the structures. However, the debonding problem experienced in CFRP sheets significantly affects the efficiency of the applied retrofit and the earthquake behavior of the member. In this study, the retrofit of reinforced concrete beam-column joints with deficient shear strength was carried out with CFRP sheets by using externally bonded reinforcement on grooves (EBROG) and bore-epoxy anchorage methods. These two retrofit methods were applied to effectively utilize the full capacity of CFRP sheets by delaying the debonding. Six ½ scaled reinforced concrete (RC) interior beam–column specimens without transverse reinforcement in the joint core were constructed. One reference and five retrofitted joints were subjected to displacement-controlled cyclic loading. The shear failures in the specimens were delayed until advanced displacement levels. The use of EBROG and bore-epoxy anchorage methods improved the yield load of the specimens by 32 % to 69.05 % compared to the reference specimen. Additionally, significant increases were observed in the initial stiffness, load-carrying, and energy dissipation capacities of the retrofitted specimens up to 68 %, 64 %, and 104 %, respectively. The ductility of the retrofitted specimens increased by approximately 7 % to 26 %. The EBROG and bore-epoxy anchorage methods proved to be highly successful in preventing the early debonding of CFRP sheets. In specimens strengthened with EBROG and bore-epoxy anchorage methods, the displacement values at which the FRP sheets began to debonding approximately doubled. It was concluded that EBROG and bore-epoxy anchorage methods were more effective than the externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) method in improving the overall structural performance of the joints.

Multiaxial ratcheting-fatigue evaluation of pressurized elbow pipe under strong cyclic loading using damage-coupled cyclic plasticity model

Continuous damage mechanics (CDM) is based on the theories of continuous medium mechanics and continuous medium thermodynamics, which considers damage is an irreversible dissipative process within the materials, and employs the field-theoretic approach of image-only science to study the internal macroscopic damage evolution law of the materials and its influence on the deterioration of the macroscopic mechanical properties of the materials. Hence, within the framework of CDM, a damage-coupled cyclic plasticity constitutive model is proposed based on combined isotropic and Chen-Jiao-Kim (CJK) kinematic hardening rule for evaluating the ratcheting-fatigue behavior of 90° elbow pipes under strong cyclic loading in this paper. Stress return mapping and numerical solution procedures of the proposed model are formulated based on the backward finite difference method. Formulation of the consistent tangent operator is presented for the Finite Element implementation of the plasticity model in ABAQUS UMAT. The FE analysis of non-pressurized and pressurized elbow pipes under cyclic displacement-controlled loading is respectively performed using the implemented constitutive model. The results reveal that the predicted results of the damage-coupled cyclic plasticity constitutive model are better than combined isotropic-kinematic hardening model, and well consistent with the experimental data.

Bond-slip model of headed bar and its application to component-based model for precast concrete joints under accidental loads

This study focused on investigating bond-slip behaviour of headed bars embedded in well-confined concrete. Test results based on eight pull-out specimens under displacement-controlled incremental loading showed that recommended development lengths from ACI318–19 are conservative in developing ultimate strength of headed bars associated with smaller slips than straight bars. Moreover, it was found that different (but sufficiently long) embedment lengths had a significant effect on the free-end slip but negligible effect on the loaded-end slip of headed bars. Additionally, the study highlighted the significance of head bearing in anchorage formation, especially during inelastic stage when bond strength had deteriorated. To address inaccuracy in predicting structural behaviour caused by inadequate anchorage strength of headed bars, a macro bond-slip model was proposed based on correlation in strain distribution obtained from the pull-out tests. Subsequently, the proposed model was incorporated into a component-based model (CBM) and validated against test results of PC joints under seismic loading. A numerical investigation using the validated CBM was conducted to study behaviour of exterior PC joints with headed bars and special detailing. These included Type X joint with X-bent bars and plastic hinge relocation (PHR), and Type A joint with an additional bar layer (ABL) in the beam-joint region, subjected to extreme loads such as seismic action or progressive collapse. The results revealed that seismic behaviour of exterior joints was governed by ductile failure of the beam at the PHR and vertical joint interface in Type X and Type A joints, respectively. Progressive collapse was primarily caused by column failure, with flexural and catenary action effectively preventing collapse. Notably, under both loading conditions, presence of ABL in Type A joint and X-bent bars with PHR in Type X joint improves flexural strength of beams at critical sections and joint shear strength, ultimately enhancing structural performance of joints. Design recommendations include replacing hooked bars with headed bars as well as implementing X-bent bars with PHR and ABL in PC joints. The authors advocate the strong-column-weak-beam design approach as an effective measure to prevent progressive collapse.

Innovative Wedge Anchorage for CFRP Plates: Development and Testing

Gripping prestressed carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) in structural strengthening applications is challenging due to CFRPs’ susceptibility to lateral loading. This paper presents a reliable and reusable wedge anchorage for gripping CFRP plates that are 50 mm wide and 1.2 mm thick. The cylindrical anchorage, which is 75 mm long and 76.2 mm in diameter, consists of an external steel barrel, two internal steel wedges, and two soft copper sleeves. The barrel-wedge interface is designed using an innovative arc–linear configuration, through which the desired stress distribution is attained, preventing stress concentration and the premature failure of the CFRP plate. The wedge anchorage was experimentally tested by applying a displacement-controlled tensile load of 0.6 mm/min until the complete fracture of the CFRP plate. The anchorage’s performance was examined under distinct installation conditions by applying different presetting levels: high (40–120 kN) and low (hammering) presetting. It was observed that the anchorage successfully prevented CFRP premature failure in all tests by achieving an average tensile loading of 172.3 (±5.7) kN, exceeding its reported tensile strength of 168 kN (2800 MPa). Minor CFRP displacements of 6.26 (±0.75) mm and 3.33 (±0.16) mm were recorded under low and high presetting levels, respectively. Similarly, the CFRP slippage relative to the wedges for the low and high presetting tests was only 1.18 (±0.75) mm and 0.33 (±0.15) mm, respectively. Also, only minor scratches were observed in the wedge–barrel interface, indicating the absence of extensive plastic deformation.

Influence of displacement amplitude on fretting-induced friction and wear of steel in oil-lubricated contact

Many fretting-prone contacts are surrounded by oils, although they are not intended to lubricate them. To study the fretting behavior of contacts whose edge is exposed to engine oil, self-mated 34CrNiMo6 +QT steel was employed with a large annular flat-on-flat contact. A displacement-controlled loading was tested in a range, encompassing stick and gross sliding. No stick-to-slip transition with displacement amplitude was observed up to a tangential-to-normal traction ratio of 1.6, compared to that of 0.5 in dry contact. Beyond that, a typical peak-to-stabilized friction curve was reached in oil with a steady-state value of roughly 0.4, lower than that of dry contact. Adhesive wear existed as the dominant wear mechanism, and the severity of adhesion increased with higher loading.

Research on Three-Closed-Loop ADRC Position Compensation Strategy Based on Winch-Type Heave Compensation System with a Secondary Component

To mitigate the interference of waves on an offshore operation ship, heave compensation systems find widespread application. The performance of heave compensation systems significantly influences the efficiency and safety of maritime operations. This study established a mathematical model for a winch-based active heave compensation system. It introduced a three-loop active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) strategy that encompasses piston position control, winch speed control, and load-displacement control to enable the real-time estimation and compensation of system disturbances, thereby enhancing the performance of the heave compensation system. To assess the effectiveness of this control strategy, this study employed Matlab/Simulink and AMESim to construct a co-simulation model and conducted a comparative analysis with traditional proportional integral derivative (PID) control systems. The research findings indicate that the three-loop ADRC position control strategy consistently delivered superior compensation performance across various operational scenarios.

Seismic strengthening of deficient ground soft-story RC frames with inadequate lap splice using chevron brace

Deficient RC frames with ground soft-story irregularity have been constructed in many countries. Past earthquakes have shown that such structures are vulnerable and must be retrofitted. This study investigated the cyclic response of two one-bay, two-story, 1/2.5-scaled RC frames with inadequate lap splice length through experimental works and numerical simulations. One of the frames was kept as the reference, and the other was strengthened using a chevron brace system. The frames were subjected to displacement-controlled quasi-static cyclic loading, and their cyclic responses were recorded and compared. Besides, the lumped plasticity model was used to investigate the effect of the strength of infill walls on the force-displacement response of the retrofitted frame. The experimentally obtained results indicated that the employed chevron brace system significantly enhanced the cyclic response of the reference frame. The retrofitted frame exhibited a 171% greater ultimate strength than the reference frame. Besides, the retrofitted frame's initial and post-yield stiffness were 2.2 and 6.9 times greater than that of the reference frame. At a 3.5% drift ratio, the retrofitted frame dissipated 233% more energy than the reference frame. In small drift ratios, the retrofitted frame exhibited a faster decay in the lateral stiffness; however, at large drift ratios, both frames showed a comparable stiffness degradation rate. Numerical simulations showed that the infill wall's lateral strength could alter the retrofitted frame's failure mode and significantly affect its force-displacement response.

Design, Testing, and Sensitivity Analysis of a Torsional Cyclic Test Adapter

In this article, a torsional adapter is designed and evaluated through the comparison of analytical, numerical, and experimental tools. The adapter converts a conventional tension–compression test machine for cyclic loading to a modified application of both force-controlled and displacement-controlled torsional loading. The mechanism ensures a uniform distribution of loading application on both sides of the specimen. The determination of the durability curve can therefore be consistently carried out by acknowledging the geometric relation between the displacement of the test rig and the strain on the specimen. However, friction and clearance in the mechanism joints can cause energy dissipation; therefore, a detailed evaluation of this effect is mandatory before the use of the adapter. Here, it is shown that, using the current version of the adapter, the energy dissipation during torsional testing can be measured and later successfully considered during the determination of the torsional cyclic curve. Future improvements of the adapter will involve the reduction of the friction between the components of the mechanism.

Seismic Performance of Cementitious Grout Filled Coupler and Sleeve Connections in Precast Wall Panels under Cyclic Lateral Loading

This study investigated the seismic performance of cementitious grout filled coupler and sleeve connections in precast wall panels under cyclic lateral loading. The effectiveness of these connections in enhancing the seismic performance of precast concrete walls was evaluated. In many countries, grouted coupler connections are the preferred option, whereas sleeve connections were more commonly utilized in India due to the belief that a greater portion of the dowel being grouted enhances structural stability. Tests were conducted on full scale precast wall panels to study the behaviour of connections by applying a displacement-controlled cyclic lateral loading and the results were discussed. The experimental study revealed that the cementitious grout filled coupler connection exhibited better seismic performance and was recommended for precast wall panel connections over the grouted sleeve connection. Compared to the grout filled sleeve connection, the specimen with an unbonded segment demonstrated an 8% rise in energy dissipation, while the specimen with a grouted coupler connection displayed a 55 % increase.

Range of motion after 1, 2, and 3 level cervical disc arthroplasty

BackgroundMotion of a solid body involves translation and rotation. Few investigations examine the isolated translational and rotational components associated with disc arthroplasty devices. This study investigates single- and multi-level cervical disc arthroplasty with respect to index and adjacent level range of motion. The investigators hypothesized that single- and multilevel cervical disc replacement will lead to comparable or improved motion at implanted and adjacent levels. MethodsSeven human cervical spines from C2 to C7 were subjected to displacement-controlled loading in flexion, extension, and lateral bending under intact, 1-Level (C5–C6), 2-Level (C5–C6, C6–C7) and 3-Level (C5–C6, C6–C7, C4–C5) conditions. 3D motions sensors were mounted at C4, C5, and C6. Motion data for translations and rotations at each level for each surgical condition and loading mode were compared to intact conditions. Results1-Level: The index surgery resulted in statistically increased translations in extension and lateral bending at all levels with statistically increased translation observed in flexion in the superior and inferior levels. In rotation, the index surgeries decreased rotation under flexion, with remaining levels not statistically different to intact conditions. 2-LevelA device placed inferiorly resulted in statistically increased translations at all levels in extension with statistically increased translations superior and inferior to the index level in flexion. Lateral bending resulted in increased nonsignificant translations. Rotations were elevated or comparable to the intact level for all loading. 3-LevelTranslations were statistically increased for all levels in all loading modes while rotations were elevated or were comparable to the intact level for all loading modes and levels. ConclusionsMicromotion sensors permitted monitoring and recording of small magnitude angulations and translations using a loading mechanism that did not over constrain cervical segmental motion. Multilevel cervical disc arthroplasty yielded comparable or increased overall motion at the index and adjacent levels compared to intact conditions.

A systematic literature review on permanent ground deformation patterns imposed on buried steel pipelines

Overtime, continuous research efforts have been devoted to investigating the effects of permanent ground deformation (PGD) on buried pipelines. These efforts have faced major uncertainties in the ground movement patterns that impose displacement-controlled loads on pipelines. This study presents a systematic review of the PGD patterns available in the literature for the analysis of buried pipelines, with particular emphasis on the PGD directions relative to pipeline axes. Depending on the directions, PGD patterns are divided into three groups: longitudinal, transverse and oblique. The relevant literature is organized into four main categories: experimental, numerical, analytical and probabilistic. Seven different PGD patterns (block, ramp, step, ridge, sinusoidal, asymmetric ridge, and asymmetric sinusoidal) available in the literature are discussed in this study. All these PGD patterns, except asymmetric sinusoidal, were applied in the longitudinal direction. In contrast, only three (block, sinusoidal and asymmetric sinusoidal) were applied transversely, which indicates a potential gap considering the randomness of PGD relative to pipeline axes. Besides, one additional PGD pattern (trapezoidal) is suggested in the present study based on the literature review. The findings of the present study show that 84 % of the reviewed cases considered either block or sinusoidal PGD pattern, while only 16 % considered the other PGD patterns (ramp, step, ridge, asymmetric ridge, and asymmetric sinusoidal). Almost all these 16 % reviewed cases assumed pipelines primarily as linear elastic materials. Based on these observations, the present study recommends a comprehensive study on the effects of all the mentioned PGD patterns on pipelines in all three directions.

In-plane dynamics crushing of a reinforced honeycomb with enhanced energy absorption

Recently, an increasing interest in reinforced honeycomb structures (RHC) due to their exceptional mechanical properties and potential applications in energy absorption. This paper focuses on the theoretical and numerical study of the in-plane dynamic crushing response of RHC and the reinforced honeycomb structure with one layer of reinforcement and one layer of non-reinforcement(1 + 1RHC). The 1 + 1RHC was fabricated with a welding method. A displacement-controlled in-plane compressive load was applied to the 1 + 1RHC specimens. Three different deformation modes were monitored at varying impact velocities: low-speed, medium-speed, and high-speed modes. The deformation modes maps were developed to reveal the extent of effects by impact velocity and relative density. For 1 + 1RHC, two distinct plateau stress regions were identified at low-velocity impact loading. Additionally, the first plateau stress value of the 1 + 1RHC structure is 180.4% higher than that of structures with two platform stresses, and the second platform stress value is 71.0% higher than that of structures with two platform stresses. The 1 + 1RHC structure exhibits superior energy absorption and negative Poisson's ratio performance. The paper also discusses the impact of cell wall thickness, angle, and velocity on the crushing strength of both RHC and 1 + 1RHC. The results obtained by theoretical methods align well with that obtained from finite element simulations.

Very low-cycle fatigue failure behaviours of pipe elbows under displacement-controlled cyclic loading

In this study, quasi-static very low-cycle fatigue tests were conducted on pipe elbows at room temperature to investigate the effects of the pipe thickness, internal pressure, and material on the failure behaviours under large-amplitude cyclic loads. Three types of elbow specimens comprising two different materials and two different pipe thicknesses were used in the tests. Elbow specimens were subjected to displacement-controlled, fully reversed, in-plane mode cyclic bending with and without internal pressure. All specimens failed due to through-wall cracking of which the location and orientation depend only on the pipe thickness regardless of the internal pressure and elbow material. For thin-walled elbows of Schedule 40, the axial crack at flank was developed, whereas for thick-walled elbows of Schedule 160, the circumferential crack at intrados. The number of cycles to failure decreased with increasing internal pressure in thin-walled elbows. However, the effect of internal pressure on the number of cycles to failure was negligible in thick-walled elbows. Regardless of internal pressure level, stainless steel elbows were more resistant to failure, compared with carbon steel elbows of identical dimensions. Finally, the strain-based evaluation model considering the void growth and shrinkage effect was applied to predict fatigue failure location and cycles. Two parameters in the model, the multi-axial fracture strain locus and void shrinkage ratio, were determined from monotonic tensile test data and the fatigue life curve of the material. The predicted crack initiation site and orientation were consistent with experimental finding. For all cases, the predicted failure cycles were less but overall close to experimental data.

Uncoupled fracture model for E250, E350, and E450 grades of structural steel under monotonic loading

Forty-eight specimens with four notch specimen configurations have been extracted from three structural steel grades used in the Indian construction industry. The extracted specimen simulates stress states of ductile fracture initiation similar to the sacrificial element installed in seismic-resistant steel structures. All the specimens are monotonically tested under a displacement-controlled loading protocol. With the help of a universal testing machine and digital image correlation, the load versus notch elongation until the point of ductile fracture initiation has been captured for all the specimens. A validated numerical model is then developed to extract the ductile fracture initiation parameters, namely stress Triaxiality (T), Lode function (L - ξ or θ or Lp), and Equivalent Plastic Strain (PEEQ). The extracted T, L, and PEEQ are then used to construct a three-dimensional fracture locus for all three study grades. In addition, a new uncoupled ductile fracture model named the Exponential based Lode parameter Void Growth Model (ELVGM) is proposed to predict the point of ductile fracture initiation and is then compared with six well-established existing uncoupled ductile fracture models using eight error measures. The proposed ELVGM with two free parameters is observed to provide better prediction accuracy for both low and high-yield strength steel corresponding to the considered stress states.

Compressive stress–strain behaviour of masonry prisms made of low elastic modulus burnt clay bricks

Masonry, being a quasi-brittle material, displays mechanical properties and manifests non-linear behaviour, which is influenced by the specific attributes of its constituent units and mortar. The compressive stress–strain behaviour of masonry is a vital factor in the realistic analysis of masonry structures when subjected to ground deformations arising from construction activities such as excavation, underground tunnel construction, utility installations, and for evaluating their seismic vulnerability. In India, the commonly used masonry unit is burnt clay bricks, which are highly localized due to changes in the constituent material and manufacturing process. This leads to variations in the strength and stiffness of brick units from region to region. An experimental investigation was conducted using twenty-four brick specimens, seventy-two mortar cube specimens and forty-eight four-unit single-wythe masonry prism specimens, subjected to displacement-controlled uniaxial compressive load. The specimen displacements of brick units and masonry prisms were obtained using Digital Image Correlation analysis. The stiffness of the brick units was significantly lower than those reported in studies conducted in India or elsewhere. Statistical analysis has been performed, and relations between the respective compressive strength and elastic modulus of brick units, mortar and masonry prism specimens have been obtained. An equation has been proposed to estimate masonry prisms’ elastic modulus from its components. An analytical model has been proposed for predicting the compressive stress–strain curve of masonry prisms, incorporating the elastic modulus of masonry prisms, which can be predicted using the expression proposed in this study. This is a fundamental improvement over the expressions available in the literature.

Experimental assessment of retrofitted damaged mortarless dry stacked interlocking masonry walls

The aim of this research study is to experimentally investigate the effectiveness of ferrocement overlay on the seismic capacity of damaged mortarless dry stacked masonry constructed with self-interlocking compressed earth blocks. For the achievement of the aim, two full scale damaged walls were retrofitted with ferrocement overlay technique. To study the effects of openings, one wall was provided with a window, while the other one was a solid wall. Retrofitting materials consist of 18-gauge galvanized steel welded wire mesh having opening size of 12.5 × 12.5 mm (0.5" × 0.5″) and 1:4 conventional cement-sand mortar. The walls were tested with displacement-controlled quasi static cyclic loading protocols. The seismic performance of the retrofitted walls under a combination of vertical axial load and lateral reverse cyclic loading was compared to the specimens before retrofitting. Damage patterns and different seismic parameters such as force deformation curve, energy dissipation, stiffness degradation and performance levels were assessed. The results show that the seismic capacity of damaged mortarless dry stacked interlocking masonry can be restored and enhanced as the overall response of the structure is significantly improved.

Exploiting perforations to enhance the adhesion of 3D-printed lap shears

Soft polymeric adhesives capable of experiencing large deformations are used in many applications, including soft robotics, stretchable electronics, and tissue engineering. The growing use of these materials raises many questions regarding their ability to maintain adhesion under loads. This work aims to study the adhesion of soft adhesives to perforated substrates. To this end, we design lap shear-based specimens from the acrylic adhesive VHB 4910 and stiff 3D-printed perforated substrates. Substrates with four different void sizes are investigated and the lap shears are subjected to displacement-controlled and force-controlled loadings. Our experiments show that the shear response can be divided into two main regions. First, the adhesion area between the soft adhesive and the substrate is maintained such that the adhesive experiences shear. Next, a debonding process of the adhesive from the substrate begins and ends with the ultimate rupture of the elastomer. Comparison between displacement and force controlled loadings reveals that the latter is characterized by limited extensibility, since the soft adhesive cannot relax. As opposed to the standard lap shears, the perforations yield a highly heterogeneous stress state that enables one to increase adhesion strength and enhance the performance of lap shears in a variety of applications.

A hybrid-sandwiching system for buckling-restraining of reduced beam sections

The present study proposes a new system for preventing local buckling in reduced beam sections (RBSs). The proposed method is called the “hybrid-sandwiching system”. In this approach, high-strength grout sandwiches an RBS part of a beam with the help of steel strips and high-strength bolts. Two T-shape specimens representing a beam-to-column connection were tested under displacement-controlled cycling loading. One specimen includes the conventional RBS and the other includes the proposed hybrid-sandwiched RBS. The experimental results of the specimens showed that the specimen with hybrid-sandwiched RBS experienced a considerable rotation up to a drift angle of R = 7% without any buckling in the web and flanges. However, in the specimen with conventional RBS, the flanges were buckled, and consequently, a significant strength degradation was observed at a drift angle of R = 4%. The experimental results confirmed that the hybrid-sandwiching system not only provides great ductility for RBSs but also does not disturb the basic role of the RBSs in moving the location of the flexural plastic hinges away from the columns' faces. In addition to experimental investigations, the finite element models (FEMs) of the specimens were conducted and validated with experimentally-obtained results. A series of FEMs was also carried out to verify the influence of hybrid-sandwiching systems on RBSs with different sizes.

The influence of intervertebral disc overloading on nociceptor calcium flickering.

Mechanical overloading can trigger a degenerative-like cascade in an organ culture of intervertebral disc (IVD). Whether the overloaded IVD can influence the activation of nociceptors (i.e., the damage sensing neurons) remains unknown. The study aims to investigate the influence of overloaded IVD conditioned medium (CM) on the activation of nociceptors. In the static loading regime, force-controlled loading of 0.2 MPa for 20 h/day representing "long-term sitting and standing" was compared with a displacement-controlled loading maintaining original IVD height. In the dynamic loading regime, high-frequency-intensity loading representing degenerative "wear and tear" was compared with a lower-frequency-intensity loading. CM of differently loaded IVDs were collected to stimulate the primary bovine dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cultures. Calcium imaging (Fluo-4) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunofluorescent labeling were jointly used to record the calcium flickering in CGRP(+) nociceptors. Force-controlled loading led to a higher IVD cell death compared to displacement-controlled loading. Both static and dynamic overloading (force-controlled and high-frequency-intensity loadings) elevated the frequency of calcium flickering in the subsurface space of CGRP(+) nociceptors compared to their mild loading counterparts. In the organ culture system, IVD overloading mediated an altered IVD-nociceptor communication suggesting a biological mechanism associated with discogenic pain.

Curing–dependent structural behavior of ultra-high-performance hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete beams

The application of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) is exceptionally versatile. However, a comprehensive understanding of UHP-FRC beam structural performance characteristics is lacking. The majority of research has concentrated on the behavior of structural members following standard water curing. This study investigated the impact of the curing regime on the structural performance of UHPC beams. The four different curing regimes used were standard, simulated hot arid weather, steam curing at various ages, and 5% sodium sulfate curing. Experimentally measured mechanical properties of UHP-FRC have been determined following ASTM guidelines, and the investigated beams have been tested under displacement-controlled four-point loading. Additionally, ACI 318 and FHWA-HIF codified formulas were employed in this study to predict the moment capacity of the tested beams. As a result of the various steam systems of varying ages, the load-carrying capacities of the beams were improved. By accelerating cement hydration, steam curing produces a stronger bond between fibers and the cementitious matrix, improving flexural strength. The control beam (under standard curing) showed a smaller maximum deflection, while all other beams showed similar deflection capacity. By accelerating the drying shrinkage, the beams under the 28-day standard with hot air curing were negatively impacted, with an average deflection value around 5% lower than control beams. The cured beams under simulated hot, arid conditions had the lowest flexural rigidity. A steam-cured beam had the highest moment-curvature performance, while a beam cured under simulated arid conditions had the lowest. Additionally, the ACI 318 design equation significantly underestimated beam maximum moments, while the FHWA approach marginally overestimated beam maximum moments with a predicted-to-tested average of 0.82.