Comparison of cracking force in HPFRCC reinforced beams compared to reference beam

In this study, the cracking force in HPFRCC reinforced beams was compared to reference beams. In this regard, a reference beam and four beams reinforced with a thin layer of HPFRCC in the lower part of the beams were subjected to four-point pure bending experiment and finally the impact of reinforcement on the resulting forces is investigated and compared. In the reference concrete beam, the cracks are coupled with the tensile stress-strain curvature softening and the structural bearing capacity decreases with increasing cracks. Therefore, relying on reinforcement is essential to maintain the structure. However, in the lower layer beams of the HPRFCC the microtracks allow the material to enter the hardening stage and increase the bearing capacity. This increase is more noticeable in specimens with more fibers.