Effect of Cyclic Loading on the Residual Tensile Strength of Steel Fiber–Reinforced High-Strength Concrete

Abstract

This paper evaluates variations in the residual tensile strength of prismatic specimens made of steel fiber–reinforced high-strength concrete (SFRHSC) attributable to flexural cyclic loading. All specimens were previously subjected to a three-point static bending load test until the first flexural crack appeared. In these cases, no notched specimens were used. Next, the specimens were subjected to a preset number of three-point cyclic bending loads, without fatigue failure in any case. Finally, the specimens were submitted to a three-point static load test until failure. This test procedure shows a progressive decrease in the residual tensile strength with the number of cycles. A new definition of damage is introduced: relative variation of the tensile strength with the number of cycles. A correlation is identified between conventional damage and this new definition of damage.