Size effect on failure of overreinforced concrete beams

The results of full-scale failure of singly reinforced four-point-bend beams of different sizes containing deformed longitudinal reinforcing bars are reported. The tests consisted of four groups with one, two and three different size combinations. The specimens were made of concrete with a maximum aggregate size of 10 mm. The beams were geometrically similar in one, two and three-dimensions, and even the bar diameter and cover thicknesses were scaled in proportion. The reinforcement ratio was 3%. The results revealed the existence of a significant size effect, which can approximately be described by the size effect law previously proposed by Bazant. The size effect is found to be stronger in two-dimensional similarities than for one and three-dimensional similarities.