Influence of cover thickness on the flexural response of fibrous RC beams

An analytical model is proposed in the present paper aimed at describing the response of simply-supported beams loaded in four-point bending. Several cases concerning normal- and high-strength concrete beams, reinforced with longitudinal bars, stirrups and steel hooked fibers are considered, and their load-deflection curves, as well as their moment-curvature curves and the ultimate deflections at the onset of failure in bending or shear, are obtained by means of the proposed, simplified approach. The satisfactory fitting of the test results confirms the potential of the proposed model, that can accurately predict beam behaviour in bending and shear, including the spalling of the cover and the contribution of the fibers.