Performance-Based Approach for the Design of a Deflection Hardened Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

A numerical model that uses a nonlinear cracked hinge was developed to characterize the flexural behavior of a beam element composed of hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HyFRC). Deflection hardening performance criteria were established based on an average tensile strain capacity of 0.002 and a deterministic sensitivity analysis of the model. A HyFRC mix design is proposed that exceeds these performance criteria. The HyFRC flexural behavior and its flexural stiffness are compared against conventional reinforced concrete. Implications of the material flexural performance on performance-based structural design methods are discussed.