Structural equivalence between reinforced NSC, UHPC and UHPFRC beams

Purpose Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) and ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) are a new generation of concrete that have demonstrated superior performance in relation to normal-strength concrete (NSC). This study aims to integrate the mechanical data proposed in the literature (obtained from small-scale experimental tests) and use them to create a consistent finite element analysis (FEA) model for UHPC and UHPFRC structures and comparing them with NSC models. Design/methodology/approach An FEA application with Abaqus software was used on real-scale beams, and the results were compared with NSC to assess their load-bending equivalence. Findings UHPC–UHPFRC structures reduce total concrete consumption by 39.0%–56.4% when compared to NSC, resulting in a dead load reduction of 1.6–2.2 times. The use of UHPC–UHPFRC led to a reduction in total steel consumption (reinforcement) by 56.7%. The ultimate limit state of the beams is not affected by using steel fibers in UHPC structures. Originality/value The mechanical equivalence of these elements is not well known and the parametric data to create FEA models are unclear.