Experimental and Analytical Investigation of Deflection of R-UHPFRC Beams Subjected to Loading–Unloading

Under service conditions, R-UHPFRC (Reinforced Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious composite) beams exhibit residual deflection after loading–unloading. This is due to the tensile strain hardening behavior of UHPFRC. The precise calculation of deflection is thus relevant and was not addressed previously. This paper proposes a material model for UHPFRC under loading–unloading and a numerical layered model for the calculation of stress and strain distribution in the cross section. Then, a curvature-based analytical model is presented for calculation of deflection of a beam. This method is finally compared and validated against experimental results as obtained from four-point bending of full-scale R-UHPFRC beams. This research reveals the need for a specific material model for UHPFRC subjected to loading–unloading for the precise calculation of the structural response of elements and members under repetitive loading, such as service or fatigue loading.