Nonlinear Analysis for Reactive Powder Concrete Beams under Rapid Flexural Loadings

The aim of this study was to develop an analytical model based on a fiber model technique for representing the behavior of a reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) beam subjected to rapid flexural loads. In the analytical model, first, the moment-curvature relationship of the section of the RPC beam was calculated, considering the fact that the constituent materials, i.e., RPC and reinforcing steel, exhibit strain rate effects on mechanical properties. Then, the load-midspan deflection relationship was obtained through the moment-curvature relationship. The analytical model was applied to the experimental results for verification. The analytical results were in good agreement with the experimental results. Subsequently, analytical investigations were performed to find out the influence of variables, such as loading rates, compressive strengths, the amount of reinforcing steel and the volume fraction of steel fibers, on the behaviors of RPC beams.