Size effect in bending of High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (HPFRC) thin slabs

The use of HPFRC, due to its characteristics of ductility, flexural strength, and pleasant finishing, has been extended to the construction of thin elements such as façades. However, the reliability of mechanical performance of this composite, determined on small samples for designing large elements, can be debated; especially if no traditional reinforcement is introduced and both resistance and ductility of the member response rely solely on the contribution of fibers. The experimental campaign, proposed hereby, refers to a HPFRC with a volume fraction of 2.5% of hooked-end steel fibers and analyses 3.5 cm thick elements. Several four-point bending tests have been performed on samples varying in length (60 to 180 cm) and width (15 to 45 cm). The paper presents the main results of this investigation aimed at providing useful information on the size effect in bending of a HPFRC.