Numerical investigation of the shear behavior of reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete beams

This computational investigation focused on numerical modeling of the shear behavior of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) beams reinforced longitudinally with high-strength rebars and ordinary-strength steel (stirrups). Nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model, using the concrete damaged plasticity model and material properties obtained from uniaxial compressive and tensile laboratory tests, was conducted to simulate UHPC concrete beams within a commercial finite element software package ABAQUS 6.13. This investigation included the effects of various parameters; shear span-to-effective depth ratio (a/d), volume fraction of steel fibers, V_f, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, ρ, and stirrups spacing, s, on shear behavior of UHPC beams. Numerical results compared with previously obtained experimental results in terms of shear force–midspan deflection and cracking-propagation behaviors. The results showed that finite element analysis predicted the shear behavior of UHPC beams in good agreement with the experimental data and predicted the response of the beam with variation in various parameters with a good accuracy.