Background <p>The background of this study lies in understanding the mechanical behavior of fibrous cementitious composites under Mode I fracture at varying loading rates, which is primarily governed by the dynamic interaction between the steel fibers and the cementitious matrix. Although steel fiber reinforced concrete is engineered to enhance ductility and crack resistance, overall performance may change under quasistatic to moderate loading due to sensitivity to loading rate effects.</p> Objective <p>The objective of this study is to address the existing research gap by investigating the influence of the loading rate on key fracture parameters, including fracture energy, ultimate peak load, crack mouth opening displacement at peak load, and mid-span deflection. The evolution of crack propagation was analyzed through digital image correlation, enabling the computation of fictitious crack tip displacements.</p> Methods <p>An experimental program involving three-point bending tests was conducted on notched beams with varying steel fiber volume fractions (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) to assess the effect of loading rate on the fracture behavior. Results showed a clear loading rate dependency in both plain and fibrous cementitious composites.</p> Results <p>The analysis shows that for a given crack mouth opening displacement, higher loading rates result in greater fictitious crack tip advancement, highlighting the rate-sensitive nature of fracture processes in both plain and steel fiber reinforced concrete.</p> Conclusions <p>These findings contribute to an understanding of the loading rate dependent fracture behavior of fibrous cementitious composites and offer insights for the design and analysis of structural elements subjected to various loading conditions.</p>