Experimental Research on Fatigue Behavior of Reinforced UHPC-NC Composite Beams under Cyclic Loading

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), a new cement-based material that offers high mechanical strength and good durability, has been widely applied in construction and rehabilitation projects in recent years. An optimum bending system is achieved by positioning the UHPC layer at the bottom tensile zone of the composite beam and placing the normal-strength concrete (NC) layer at the upper compression zone, which is described as the UHPC-NC composite beam. The fatigue behavior of reinforced UHPC-NC composite beams was described in this study, with an emphasis on the effects of UHPC layer thickness and fatigue load level on the fatigue life of the beam, deformation of the interface between UHPC and NC layers, as well as the bending stiffness of the beam. A total of 9 reinforced UHPC-NC composite beams were tested under cyclic loading. The test variables include UHPC layer thicknesses (zero, 200, and 360 mm), reinforcement ratios (1.184% and 1.786%), and the upper load levels (0.39~0.65). The results showed that good bonding had been achieved without delamination between UHPC and NC layers prior to the final fatigue failure of the beam, and the bending stiffness of the composite beam experienced a three-stage reduction under cyclic loading. Furthermore, an equation was proposed to predict the stiffness reduction coefficient of UHPC-NC composite beams under cyclic loading.