NUMERICAL MODELLING OF FRACTURE OF MACRO-POLYMER FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE

Author(s): Marcos G. Alberti, Alejandro Enfedaque, Jaime C. Gálvez, Encarnación Reyes
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: proceedings of the International RILEM Conference on Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering Conference segment on Service Life of Cement-Based Materials and Structures
Editor(s): Miguel Azenha, Ivan Gabrijel, Dirk Schlicke, Terje Kanstad and Ole Mejlhede Jensen
ISBN:978-2-35158-170-4
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-173-5
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 304-313
Total Pages: 10
Language : English

Abstract: Research has shown that polyolefin fibres can meet the requirements of the standards that
consider post-cracking effectiveness of fibres when it comes to the design of structures made
of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC). Experimentally observed fracture behaviour has shown a
remarkably reliable performance of polyolefin FRC, even when modifying the concrete type,
the pouring and compaction procedures as well as mould sizes. A numerical model, based on
the cohesive fracture approach, is proposed for modelling the fracture processes of macro-
polymer fibre reinforced concrete (PFRC). Such a model has been successfully applied by the
authors to plain concrete and even non-isotropic cohesive materials. In this work, it is
extended to PFRC by means of an adapted tri-linear softening law. The model is implemented
in a finite element programme by means of an embedded crack. The main advantage in
comparison with other approaches is that it does not require re-meshing during crack growth.
Numerical simulations of experiments carried out by the authors, show how the proposed
model may simulate fracturing of PFRC. The conclusions of this study provide a better
understanding mode I fracturing and could enhance future modelling and structural design of
PFRC.

Online publication : 2016
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00