Modelling and experimental validation of flexural tensile properties of steel fiber reinforced concrete

•Investigating the flexural tensile behaviors of SFRC.•Proposing a tensile behavior modeling for stress–strain relationship of SFRC.•Examining and verifying the accuracy of flexural model of SFRC by the test results.•Simplifying the tensile stress–strain relation of the tested SFRC. In this paper, a four-linear model for tensile σ-ε relation is proposed to analyze and evaluate the residual bending performance of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) in flexure. The four-linear model for tension is categorized into pre-cracked stage, cracking moment, crack propagation stage and failure stage. The strength of SFRC after cracking has been fully considered at the cracking moment and crack propagation stage in this model. Using axial force and bending moment equilibrium principles, the expression of each parameter in the σ-ε relationship is established. The proposed σ-ε relation is verified experimentally. It showed that the proposed σ-ε relation fairly predicts the load–deflection behavior of SFRC prisms. Further, the proposed σ-ε relation of SFRC is optimized by a simplified analytical approach in which the value of each key point is expressed by residual flexural tensile strength, and could be applied to predict the mechanical properties of SFRC structures.