Response of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) to impact and static loading

This paper presents an experimental and analytical study of rate-dependent ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) behavior. UHPFRC three- and four-point bending response was determined on plates subjected to quasi-static loading. Drop weight tests were performed in order to apply dynamic three-point-bending loading to UHPFRC plates. In addition, uniaxial tensile tests were performed at different strain rates. A cross-sectional bending model related the uniaxial tensile behavior to the bending response with good agreement. The equivalent static response of the plate specimens in the drop weight tests was successfully determined with nonlinear mass–spring models. The results of this study show a significantly increased strength and fracture energy of the dynamically loaded plates when compared to quasi-static loading and confirm the validity of the analytical modeling.