Experimental determination of GFRC tensile parameters from three-point bending tests using an analytical damage model

Abstract Glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) has been emerging as a widely used construction material that is suitable for many structural elements and particularly flat slabs. This paper presents mix design proportions of GFRC with 0%, 2% and 3% weight fractions of fibers and experimental tests including the 3-point bending tests (NT 21.123 (NF P18-407)) which are usually used in practice. These tests provide indirect information on tensile behavior. They are completed by an identification of the tensile behavior made by inverse analysis to obtain it from their bending response. For this purpose, an analytical damage model is developed to obtain bending moment–curvature constitutive behavior. The deduction of load–deflection relationship is established using different beam theories. It is shown that the classical beam theory is sufficient to estimate the behavior of short beams having a span to height ratio equal to 3 according to NT 21.123 recommendations. Finally, the developed model is applied in order to determine ultimate bending moment capacity as function of GFRC flat slab and beam thickness.