Some comments on the experimental behavior of FRC beams in flexure

In the present paper the experimental results, recently obtained by the authors, regarding the monotonic and the cyclic flexural response of normal and high-strength concrete beams reinforced with steel bars and discontinuous fibers, are shown. From the experimental results, all referred to low values of shear-to-depth ratios, it emerges clearly that the shear failure is brittle especially under cyclic actions highlighting the role of the fibers in the flexural behavior of the beams. The cyclic action produces a significant decay in the stiffness and in the strength capacity of the beams, and the addition of fibers reduces these negative effects. Form theoretical point of view good agreement can be found utilizing the recent analytical model proposed by the authors. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.