Cyclic bending behavior of pre‐cracked thin‐walled elements in high performance fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract High‐performance fiber reinforced concrete (HPFRC) is increasingly being adopted for thin elements, such as façade panels, due to its outstanding mechanical properties and attractive finishes. These elements endure cyclic loads during their service life, impacting material properties and potentially leading to fatigue failures, particularly in the presence of cracks. This study focuses on investigating the cyclic bending behavior of thin‐walled HPFRC elements by conducting an experimental campaign with four‐point bending cyclic tests on thin samples. Different cyclic loading levels and different pre‐cracking levels representing service and ultimate limit state conditions were considered. For samples surviving beyond 100,000 cycles, post‐cyclic static monotonic tests were conducted to evaluate the structural performance compared to reference tests under pristine conditions. The influence of pre‐cracking and loading levels on crack evolution is discussed. Furthermore, insights into the reduction of failure load and the evolution of damage are provided, considering the defectiveness of the material.