Structural Performance Improvement of Reinforced Concrete Beams by Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composite Layers

A strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) is a modern engineered material offering exceptional ductility and durability. A potential application of SHCCs for crack control and to improve structural members' load-bearing capabilities is due to its superior properties. In this study, SHCCs were used to enhance the load-carrying capacity and the cracking behavior of precast RC beams. In the bottom tension region of RC beams, the SHCCs of different layer thicknesses (0%, 15%, 30%, and 45% of section height) were cast. Laboratory-scale beams were used in 4-point bending tests. SHCC-layered RC beams showed improved flexural performance compared to control RC beams. Among retrofitted beams, the one with an SHCC layer of 30% of the section height was found to be the most efficient pertaining to strength, ductility, and cracking control. In this study, the flexural response of composite beams was also predicted using an analytical approach. The average difference between predicted and measured moment capacities was less than 10%.