Yes / Experimental and theoretical investigations on the flexural performance of steel reinforced ECC-concrete composite beams subjected to freeze–thaw cycles are presented in this paper. Four groups of reinforced composite beams with different ECC height replacement ratios subject to 0, 50, 100 and 150 cycles of freeze–thaw were physically tested to failure. Experimental results show that the bending capacity decreases with the increase of freeze–thaw cycles regardless of ECC height replacement ratios. However, the ultimate moment, stiffness and durability of ECC specimens and ECC-concrete composite specimens are greater than those of traditional concrete specimens, owing to the excellent tensile performance of ECC materials. With the increase of ECC height, the crack width and average crack spacing gradually decrease. According to materials’ constitutive models, compatibility and equilibrium conditions, three failure modes with two boundary failure conditions are proposed. Simplified formulas for the moment capacity are also developed. The results predicted by the simplified formulas show good agreement with the experimental moment capacity and failure modes. A parametric analysis is conducted to study the influence of strength and height of ECC, amount of reinforcement, concrete strength and cycles of freeze–thaw on moment capacity and curvature ductility of ECC-concrete composite beams.

Yes / GFRP profiled-concrete composite beams with groove shear connectors are analyzed using finite the element (FE) analysis. The concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model was adopted for normal strength concrete (NSC) and reactive powder concrete (RPC). The orthotropic behaviour of GFRP profile was taken into consideration, and the bi-linear traction-separation model was used to investigate the bond-slip behavior between GFRP profile and concrete. Furthermore, parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effects of strength and the cross-sectional dimensions of concrete, strength (orthotropy), and the cross-sectional dimensions (the web height and the thickness of FRP plate). Numerical analysis results correlate well with experimental results. Based on numerical analysis, the composite beam with shear connectors spacing at 100 mm has a deflection-limit load of 21.4 % higher than the specimens with 150 mm spacing. It is possible to improve the bonding behavior of interfaces by using groove shear connectors. The ultimate load and deformation, and pseudo-ductility were significantly improved by using RPC with high strength and toughness (ultimate compressive strain). GFRP profiles with greater orthotropy coefficients provide fully utilized concrete's compressive strength, preventing premature crushing and enhancing composite structure stiffness. Flexural performance of the composite beams can be improved efficiently by choosing the appropriate sectional size during design and construction. / The authors would like to thank the financial support provided by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (BK20201436), the Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Construction System (2018ZD047, 2021ZD06), the Science and Technology Project of Gansu Construction System (JK2021-19), the Open Foundation of Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Prefabricated Building and Intelligent Construction (2021), the High-End Foreign Experts Project of Ministry of Science and Technology, China (G2022014054L), the Science and Technology Cooperation Fund Project of Yangzhou City and Yangzhou University (YZU2022194, YZU212105), the Blue Project Youth Academic Leader of Colleges and Universities in Jiangsu Province (2020), the Science and Technology Project of Yangzhou Construction System (2022ZD03, 202204) and the Technology Innovation Cultivation Fund of Yangzhou University (2020-65).

Yes / In order to promote the utilization of high strength materials and application of prefabricated structures, flexural behaviour of section steel-precast UHPC (Ultra-High performance concrete) slab composite beams prefabricated with bolt shear connectors are numerically simulated by the finite element (FE) software ABAQUS. The model is verified by three prefabricated steel-concrete composite beams tested. Numerical analysis results are in good accordance with experimental results. Furthermore, parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of strength of section steel and concrete of precast slab, thickness of section steel, width and height of precast concrete slab, diameters of steel bars and bolt shear connectors. The flexural behaviour of composite beams, in terms of bearing capacity, deflection, ductility and energy dissipation, are compared. The numerical results indicate that the improvement of strength of section steel results in a decrease of ductility, but a significant increase of the ultimate load and energy dissipation. Compared with composite beam made of section steel with thickness of 10 mm, the ultimate load of beams made of section steel with thickness of 14 and 18 mm improve by 29.0% and 58.8%, respectively, the ductility enhance by 2.8% and 8.3%, respectively, and the energy dissipation improve by 8.0% and 12.3%, respectively. With the increase of concrete strength, the ultimate load, deflection and energy dissipation gradually increase. The ductility of steel-UHPC composite beam is the highest, that of steel-HSC composite beam is the lowest. The effect of reinforcement ratio of concrete slab and diameter of shear bolts on the ultimate load of composite beam is limited. Simplified formulae for two different sectional types of proper-reinforced section steel-precast UHPC slab composite beams occurred bending failure are proposed, and the predicted results fit well with the simulated results. The results can be taken as a reference for the design and construction of section steel-precast UHPC slab composite beams.

Yes / Finite element (FE) analysis of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced concrete beams cast in U-shaped ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) permanent formworks is presented in this paper. Concrete damage plasticity (CDP) and FRP brittle damage models were used to simulate the damage behavior of concrete and FRP bars. The results of FE simulation are in good agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effect of concrete and UHPC strengths, yield strength of steel bars, elastic modulus of FRP bars, ultimate tensile strength of FRP bars, types of UHPC normal strength concrete (NSC) interface and thickness of UHPC under different reinforcement conditions. Flexural performances, in terms of cracking, yield, ultimate loads and corresponding deflections, failure mode, energy dissipation and ductility, were investigated. Traction-separation model was used to describe the bonding degradation and the maximum slip of two types of bonding interfaces (smooth surface and medium-rough surface). Both flexural capacity and resistance to deformation of composite beams are significantly improved by the utilization of hybrid FRP/steel reinforcement. The UHPC formwork can also delay the occurrence and development of cracks. By appropriately increasing the strength of UHPC or elastic modulus of FRP bar, the flexural capacity of composite beams is effectively improved. It is expected that the results presented in this paper can guide the design and construction of U-shaped UHPC permanent formwork-concrete composite beams reinforced with FRP bars.

Yes / This paper presents the experimental results of five large-scale hybrid glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP)-steel reinforced concrete continuous beams compared with two concrete continuous beams reinforced with either steel or GFRP bars as reference beams. In addition, two simply supported concrete beams reinforced with hybrid GFRP/steel were tested. The amount of longitudinal GFRP, steel reinforcements and area of steel bars to GFRP bars were the main investigated parameter in this study. The experimental results showed that increasing the GFRP reinforcement ratio simultaneously at the sagging and hogging zones resulted in an increase in the load capacity, however, less ductile behaviour. On the other hand, increasing the steel reinforcement ratio at critical sections resulted in more ductile behaviour, however, less load capacity increase after yielding of steel. The test results were compared with code equations and available theoretical models for predicting the beam load capacity and load-deflection response. It was concluded that Yoon's model reasonably predicted the deflection of the hybrid beams tested, whereas, the ACI.440.1R-15 equation underestimated the hybrid beam deflections. It was also shown that the load capacity prediction for hybrid reinforced concrete continuous beams based on a collapse mechanism with plastic hinges at mid-span and central support sections was reasonably close to the experimental failure load. / Higher Education of Libya (972/2007).

Yes / To study the flexural behavior of Steel-FRP (Fiber-Reinforced Polymer) Composite Bars (SFCBs) reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) frame beams, the flexural behavior of six frame beams with different types of concrete and reinforcement was simulated and analyzed using the finite element software ABAQUS. The strain behavior of concrete and reinforcement was simulated using real strain models, and the simulation results matched well with the experimental results. Based on the validated model, the effect of mechanical properties of concrete and SFCB, reinforcement ratio, and the dimensions of frame beam on the flexural behavior of frame beams was parametrically analyzed. The results showed that, compared with the steel-reinforced ordinary concrete (OC) frame beam, the ultimate deflection of SFCB-OC frame beam increased by 5%. Compared with the SFCB-OC frame beam, the bearing capacity and ultimate deflection of the SFCB-RPC frame beam increased by 16% and 22%, respectively. Improving the steel content of SFCB reduced the ultimate load and deformation of SFCB-RPC frame beam. The yield strength of SFCB core steel had a significant influence on the yield load of frame beam, but a small influence on the ultimate load and deformation. Enhancing the elastic modulus of SFCB out-wrapped FRP reduced the ultimate deformation of the frame beam. Improving the reinforcement ratio of SFCB increased the bearing capacity and reduced the deformation. When reinforced concrete frame beams had similar bearing capacity, the cross-sectional dimensions of steel-RPC frame beam, FRP-RPC frame beam, and SFCB-RPC frame beam are 90.1%, 61.5%, and 72.7%, respectively, of those of their corresponding respective reinforced OC frame beams. All reinforced RPC frame beams exhibited high bearing capacity, good deformation, ductility, and energy dissipation performance. This research can provide a reference for the design of SFCB-RPC frame beams. / High-End Foreign Experts Project of Ministry of Science and Technology, China (G2022014054L), the Science and Technology Project of Gansu Construction System (JK2021-19), the Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Construction System (2018ZD047, 2021ZD06, 2023ZD104, 2023ZD105), the Science and Technology Cooperation Fund Project of Yangzhou City and Yangzhou University (YZ2022194), the Yangzhou Construction System Science and Technology Project (202309, 202312), the Research Project of Jiangsu Civil Engineering and Architecture Society (the Second Half of 2022). / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 27 Jan 2025.

Yes / Test results of steel-ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) composite beams with welded steel shear keys (SSKs) under four-point bending are presented in this paper. The objective of the investigation is to reduce the self-weight and manufacturing cost of large-span structures. The study investigates the effects of strength of concrete slab, type, spacing and size of SSK, and concrete slab height and width on flexural behavior of composite beams. The experimental results demonstrate that enhancing concrete strength, reducing SSK spacing, increasing concrete slab size, and using large-size SSK can all significantly enhance the flexural performance. The composite beams with welded SSK exhibit a maximum relative slip of less than 4 mm, while the counterpart with welded bolts has a maximum relative slip greater than 4 mm. The study shows that the welded SSK is more effective than welded bolts in improving the interface shear performance of composite beams and improving the stiffness and load capacity. Additionally, the study defines four failure modes of steel-UHPC composite beams, and the formulae for flexural capacity is developed based on the reasonable basic assumptions. The calculated results fit well with the tested results. The research findings can be provided as a technical support for the design and application of steel-UHPC composite beams. / High-End Foreign Experts Project of Ministry of Science and Technology, China (G2022014054L), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (BK20201436), the Science and Technology Cooperation Fund Project of Yangzhou City and Yangzhou University (YZ2022194), the Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Construction System (2023ZD104, 2023ZD105), the Science and Technology Project of Yangzhou Construction System (202309, 202312) / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 29 May 2025.

Yes / This paper presents the bending tests of four ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) frame beams and one normal strength concrete (NSC) frame beam, all reinforced with steel-FRP composite bars (SFCBs). A comprehensive analysis was carried out, encompassing evaluation of the failure mode, crack propagation, bearing capacity, deformation, strain response, and plastic rotational capacity of the frame beams. Investigating the effects of concrete type, reinforcement type, and beam-end reinforcement ratio on the flexural performance of the frame beams was a key aspect of this study. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of the frame beam was established and rigorously verified. The developed model enabled a detailed parametric analysis involving the steel ratio, the yield strength of the inner core steel bar, the elastic modulus of the FRP, and the ultimate tensile strength of the SFCB. The results indicated a consistent failure mode of all frame beams: crushing of concrete at the beam-end, initiating a sequence of plastic hinge occurrence starting at the beam-end and then progressing to mid-span. The substitution of normal strength concrete with UHPC significantly enhanced various aspects of the frame beams, including the flexural capacity, deformation, ductility, ultimate energy dissipation, and plastic rotational capacity, while inhibiting the generation and expansion of cracks. Notably, the plastic rotation angle of SFCB-UHPC frame beams was 4.9 times greater than those of steel-UHPC frame beams, emphasizing the effectiveness of SFCB in enhancing the beam-end plastic rotational capacity. A decrease in the beam-end reinforcement ratio significantly reduced the flexural capacity, ultimate energy dissipation, and beam-end plastic rotational capacity, while improving ductility. Additionally, the study established a formula for calculating the equivalent plastic hinge length, utilizing the relative compressive zone height and effective section height of the beam-end controlling section as variables, which demonstrated good alignment between predicted and experimental results. / The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the High-End Foreign Experts Project of Ministry of Science and Technology, China (G2022014054L), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (BK20201436), the Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Construction System (2023ZD104, 2023ZD105), the Science and Technology Project of Gansu Construction System (JK2021-19), the Science and Technology Cooperation Fund Project of Yangzhou City and Yangzhou University (YZ2022194) and the Science and Technology Project of Yangzhou Construction System (202309, 202312), Graduate Research and Innovation Projects of Jiangsu Province (KYCX24_3750), Jiangsu Provincial Government Scholarship Project (2024), Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Fund of Yangzhou University (2024). / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 22 Sep 2025.

[pt] Nas últimas décadas, o setor da construção tem procurado mitigar os efeitos da sua atividade desenvolvendo novas formulações de materiais mais sustentáveis. Diversos estudos têm analisado a viabilidade do uso de agregado reciclado a partir de resíduos de construção e demolição, em substituição ao agregado natural. As normas internacionais restringem o uso de agregados reciclados em concreto estrutural, geralmente limitando-se a agregados reciclados compostos apenas por fragmentos cimentícios. Entretanto, a utilização de agregado reciclado com certo teor de fragmentos cerâmicos simplificaria o processo de separação antes da reciclagem, tornando-a mais viável e barata. Neste trabalho, observou-se que mesmo a substituição de 100 por cento do agregado natural por agregado reciclado misto não causou impacto significativo nas propriedades do concreto fresco e endurecido. Os resultados experimentais também mostraram que o Modelo do Empacotamento Compressível pode ser aplicado com sucesso para a dosagem de concretos produzidos com agregado reciclado misto até a classe de resistência C50. Por fim, os resultados à flexão de vigas curtas de concreto armado mostraram que as prescrições da norma brasileira ABNT NBR 6118:2014 para concretos convencionais também podem ser aplicadas a vigas de concreto com agregado reciclado misto com até 15 por cento de fragmentos cerâmicos. / [en] In the last decades, the construction sector has tried to mitigate the adverse effects of its activity by developing new formulations for more sustainable materials. Several studies have analyzed the feasibility of using recycled aggregate from construction and demolition waste in concrete to replace natural aggregate. International standards restrict the use of recycled aggregates in structural concrete, usually limiting to recycled aggregates composed only of cement-based fragments. However, using recycled aggregate with a certain content of ceramic fragments would simplify the separation process before recycling, making it more feasible and cheaper. In this work, it was observed that even replacing 100 percent of the natural aggregate with mixed recycled aggregate did not cause a significant impact on fresh and hardened concrete properties. The experimental results also showed that the Compressible Packing Model could be successfully applied for the mix design of mixed recycled aggregate concrete up to strength class C50. Finally, the results regarding the flexural behavior of short reinforced concrete beams showed that the prescriptions of the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 6118:2014 for the bending behavior of conventional concrete beams could also be applied to beams made with concrete with mixed recycled aggregate up to 15 percent of ceramic fragments.