Influence of reinforcement type on macrocrack propagation under sustained loading in steel fibre-reinforced concrete

To meet the growing challenges of sustainability, it is necessary to control and anticipate the cracking problems of structures under sustained loadings. At the structural level, very little information is available regarding the combined effect of SFRC and reinforcement under sustained flexural loading. This paper presents the results of four flexural creep tests on large steel fibre-reinforced concrete beams reinforced with fibres only or in combination with unbonded/bonded prestressing strands or traditional reinforcing bars. The main objective was to assess the influence of the reinforcement type on crack propagation, crack openings and compliance evolution in SFRC under sustained loading. The results show that the driving mechanism behind crack propagation is the same for all beams, regardless of reinforcement type, and is therefore governed by type of fibre concrete.