Direct procedure to characterize the tensile constitutive behavior of strain-softening and strain-hardening UHPFRC

There is a need to establish complete process characterize Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) in both strain-hardening and strain-softening tensile behavior. This should be simple easy apply so that its application direct. Therefore, this paper presents the development of obtain constitutive parameters UHPFRC. A simplified inverse analysis based on four-point bending tests (4PBT) derive material properties UHPFRC was adapted applied event strain softening using nonlinear finite element model (NLFEM). To fulfill objective, an extensive experimental program run with 227 specimens tested 4PBT exhibited responses. As reference, characteristic behavior obtained. Finally, predictive capable predicting curve as input developed database.