Numerical Study on Structural Behavior of RPC Deep Beams

Abstract

Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is a modern and advanced type of concrete categorized as ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete with exceptional mechanical properties and durability. RPC exhibits immense potential for various applications in reinforced concrete members. However, limited attention has been devoted to numerically investigating the structural behavior of RPC deep beams, where stress-strain models are crucial.

This research deals with the assessment of stress-strain models outlined in the fib 2010, NF P 18-710 2016 (AFGC), and CECS 2020 standard codes to comprehend their efficacy in capturing the structural response of RPC deep beams using finite element analysis (FEA). Experimental data from the literature, which explored the influence of concrete compressive strength, shear span-to-effective depth ratio, and main reinforcement ratio, was employed for validation purposes. The FEA findings indicate that the fib 2010 code tends to yield conservative estimations, while the AFGC and CECS codes gave more accurate predictions. Additionally, this study employed strut-and-tie models (STMs) based on the ACI 318-11, EN 1992-1-1, and AFGC codes to forecast the shear strength of RPC deep beams.

Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is a modern and advanced type of concrete categorized as ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete with exceptional mechanical properties and durability. RPC exhibits immense potential for various applications in reinforced concrete members. However, limited attention has been devoted to numerically investigating the structural behavior of RPC deep beams, where stress-strain models are crucial.

This research deals with the assessment of stress-strain models outlined in the fib 2010, NF P 18-710 2016 (AFGC), and CECS 2020 standard codes to comprehend their efficacy in capturing the structural response of RPC deep beams using finite element analysis (FEA). Experimental data from the literature, which explored the influence of concrete compressive strength, shear span-to-effective depth ratio, and main reinforcement ratio, was employed for validation purposes. The FEA findings indicate that the fib 2010 code tends to yield conservative estimations, while the AFGC and CECS codes gave more accurate predictions. Additionally, this study employed strut-and-tie models (STMs) based on the ACI 318-11, EN 1992-1-1, and AFGC codes to forecast the shear strength of RPC deep beams.