The addition of an external layer of reinforced ultrahigh performance fiber-reinforced concrete (R-UHPFRC) on top of reinforced concrete (RC) floor slabs and bridge decks is an emerging technique for strengthening RC structures. As an additional reinforcement, a layer of R-UHPFRC significantly increases the maximum resistance and deformation capacity of RC elements, thus creating a composite element that herein is referred to as RU-RC elements. This paper presents an elastic-plastic fictitious RU-RC composite hinge model for the damage caused by flexural and flexure-shear cracks in the RC element of the composite members. The model accounts for the nonlinear interaction of the two elements due to intermediate-crack-induced debonding (ICD) zone in the near-interface concrete. The model determines the force-deflection response and force in the RU-RC composite tension chord. Furthermore, the contribution of the R-UHPFRC element and the shear resistance envelope of the member are calculated. Comparison with available experimental results shows that the model can accurately predict the member response, resistance and failure mode. A simplified formulation for the shear resistance of the composite members is proposed. The models in this paper are needed for the design of the structural behavior of RC beams strengthened with R-UHPFRC.

The results of tests on two continuous composite beams combining a reinforced concrete (RC) beam with a layer of reinforced ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (R-UHPFRC) are presented. The R-UHPFRC element acts both as a tensile membrane and a flexural element. The tests show the element's contribution to the member capacity by allowing the redistribution of the internal forces. The continuous beams are placed on two intermediate supports; the shear span-depth ratios and stirrup content are chosen to provoke two successive formations of local flexure-shear collapse mechanisms, forming a plastic hinge at each support. With the formation of the first support hinge, the stresses redistribute. As the applied actuator displacement increases, the member continues to resist the increasing force up to the formation of a second support hinge that causes the member to collapse. The member deflection and resistance at collapse were respectively 4.5 and 1.3 times greater than the corresponding values at the formation of the first hinge. The response demonstrates the redundancy in RC beams with additional R-UHPFRC reinforcement, which can be used for designing structures against progressive collapse.

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