Characterization of the Tensile Behaviour of Ultra-High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete

Within the framework of the European Programme Horizon 2020, the Research Project ReSHEALience is currently running with the objective of developing a new approach for the design of structures exposed to extremely aggressive environments, based on durability Durability-Assessment and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). To this aim, new advanced cementitious materials, called Ultra-High Durable Concretes (UHDC), are under investigation to characterize their tensile behaviour in both ordinary and very aggressive conditions. Tensile characterization on the mixes has been performed via different techniques, mainly based on 4-P Bending Tests (4PBT) and Double Edge Wedge Splitting (DEWS). Starting from the results of indirect tension tests, identification approaches are under development in order to evaluate the effective material behaviour in pure tension. In the paper, the mechanical characterization is reported for a few mixes containing steel and amorphous fibres, also showing the identification procedures adopted.