Behavior of high-strength fiber-reinforced concrete beams under cyclic loading

This study investigated both the influence of longitudinal steel ratio and steel fiber length on high-strength concrete (HSC) beams' behavior under alternate cyclic bending. The evolution in both structural properties and cracking patterns was compared with results from the monotonic bending test. To observe the influence of fibers on deterioration of mechanical properties due to loading cycles, high-strength fiber-reinforced concrete (HSFRC) beams were tested using two fiber lengths: 30 and 60 mm. This analysis highlighted the positive effect of fibers on both the secant structural stiffness and the cracking patterns during the prepeak stage. For the postpeak stage, the ductility measurement did not reveal any improvement. In seismic cases, however, the measurement of cyclic dissipated energy is an important parameter in evaluating structural behavior Within this framework, the positive effect of fibers on energy dissipation as well as on the cumulative damage capacity has been underscored.