Structural behavior of ultra high performance concrete beams subjected to bending

Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) exhibits improved performance compared to conventional concrete. Various experimental tests on structural behavior are of importance in order to establish reasonable design specifications for UHPC. Therefore, this study provides a detailed presentation of experimental test results for the flexural behavior of ultra high performance concrete beams. The experimental parameters included the amount of rebar and the placing method for the UHPC. The flexural behavioral characteristics were examined with respect to test results on UHPC beams with rebar ratios less than 0.02 and steel fibers with a volumetric ratio of 2%. Steel fiber-reinforced UHPC proves to be effective at controlling cracks and exhibits ductile behavior with a ductility index ranging between 1.60 and 3.75. In addition, the method of placing UHPC affects the flexural behavior with regard to the orientation of the steel fibers. The results of this study provide valuable data that can be used in future studies on the development of computational models of the deflection and flexural behavior of UHPC.