Flexural Behavior of Slender UHPC Prestressed Beams Without Passive Reinforcement

This study examines the flexural behavior of slender ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPC) beams with cross-sections intended for scalable precast production. The members are prestressed only, with no passive reinforcement. An experimental program on eighteen beams combined three cross-sectional typologies (rectangular as a reference, I-shaped, and H-shaped), three UHPC mixes with fiber contents of 130, 160, and hybrid 130 + 60 kg/m³, and two prestressing layouts (bottom-only and symmetric top-and-bottom). Prestress was indirectly controlled by evaluating effective tendon stress, with time-dependent prestress losses quantified using vibrating-wire strain gauges. Four-point bending tests provided material characterization and structural response, enabling assessment of stiffness and ultimate capacity. The results highlight the coupled influence of cross-section, fiber dosage, and prestress configuration on global response. Post-cracking residual strength in UHPC promoted stable multiple cracking, while prestressing governed deflection control. Residual equivalent flexural tensile stresses above 35 MPa at deflections over 50 mm, span/70, were achieved in I- and H-shaped sections, exceeding those of rectangular sections. Overall, the study substantiates the feasibility of lightweight, durable, prestressed UHPC members that deliver significant self-weight reductions without compromising reliability.