Articles

Serviceability-Based Flexural Design of UHPC Beams

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Abstract

A paradigm shift is proposed for the design of sustainable structures using UHPC. Using a combination of new materials formulations, and closed-form analysis procedures to calculate the load-deflection response of a structure, limit-state designs aimed at the long-term durability of cement composite systems are proposed. The perspective is to meet the traditional ultimate design criteria and emphasize the perspective on serviceability measures defined in terms of durability, deflection, stiffness, and performance aspects under the service loads. Three main stages of sustainable product development will be addressed using the material properties of non-proprietary UHPC. The influence of fiber type, matrix modifications, and processing parameters under tensile and flexural loading are incorporated in constitutive material properties. The enhanced tensile behavior in the post-cracking stage is primarily governed by mechanical anchorage and bond characteristics between matrix and fibers. The residual strength under flexural loads, allows for the distribution of localization and results in additional cracking. The significant delays in stiffness loss and damage localization allows for deflection hardening applications. Innovative methods of the combinations of steel and FRP rebar and fibers as well as different UHPC materials and measurement of characteristic material properties are presented. Results are compared with a variety of test results published.

Keywords: structural design, strain hardening, strain softening, flexural response, moment-curvature, load-deflection, serviceability

How to Cite:

Pleesudjai, C., Patel, D., Neithalath, N. & Mobasher, B., (2023) “Serviceability-Based Flexural Design of UHPC Beams”, International Interactive Symposium on Ultra-High Performance Concrete 3(1): 78. doi: https://doi.org/10.21838/uhpc.16691

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