High performance fiber reinforced concrete for the shear reinforcement: Experimental and numerical research

•An innovative mix design method is proposed for the development of HPFRC.•The behavior of HPFRC is characterized under compressive, flexural and shear loading.•The influence of fiber distribution and orientation on HPFRC’s properties was assessed.•A constitutive model for the HPFRC is assessed by experimental and numerical simulation. High performance fiber reinforced concrete (HPFRC) is developing rapidly to a modern structural material with unique rheological and mechanical characteristics. Despite applying several methodologies to achieve self-compacting requirements, some doubts still remain regarding the most convenient strategy for developing a HPFRC. In the present study, an innovative mix design method is proposed for the development of high-performance concrete reinforced with a relatively high dosage of steel fibers. The material properties of the developed concrete are assessed, and the concrete structural behavior is characterized under compressive, flexural and shear loading. This study better clarifies the significant contribution of fibers for shear resistance of concrete elements. This paper further discusses a FEM-based simulation, aiming to address the possibility of calibrating the constitutive model parameters related to fracture modes I and II.