Use of double punching test (Barcelona test) for quality control of fiber reinforced concretes

Traditionally, flexural testing is used to characterize the strength and post–peak behavior of fiber–reinforced concretes (FRC). Nevertheless, these tests results exhibit a high dispersion, and therefore invalidate their use as tests for the systematic control of FRCs in works. Also, they have the disadvantage of being complex tests, which require heavy specimens and highly qualified staff. With the aim to solve these problems, an indirect tensile test based on double punching test set up, called the Barcelona test, has been proposed to control tensile behavior of FRC. This test requires smaller specimens, with a high specific surface of fracture, allowing obtain values representative of strength and toughness of materials, with considerably less dispersion than other experimental methodologies, and was recently standardized in Spain. This paper presents the results of an experimental program, which validate the use of Barcelona test as a suitable methodology to systematic characterization FRC in works