A discrete-continuum coupled finite element modelling approach for fibre reinforced concrete

Journal Article · Sun Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2018 · Cement and Concrete Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CEMCONRES.2018.01.010· OSTI ID:22806467

Zhang, H. ^[1]; Huang, Y. J. ^[2]; Xu, S. L. ^[1]; Chen, X. W. ^[3]

---

1. College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, 310058 (China)
2. Institute of Architectural Design and Research of Zhejiang Province, 310006 (China)
3. The State Key Lab of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081 (China)

Highlights: • An easy-to-implement but effective meso-scale modelling approach is developed for FRC. • It is capable of simulating and interpreting all main failure mechanisms in FRC. • It is critically validated by experiments with single or multiple random fibres under various loading conditions. • It can be used to optimise key design factors of FRC at meso/material scale by parametric studies. - Abstract: Fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) exhibits complicated failure modes such as fibre breakage, mortar cracking, crushing and spalling, fibre-mortar interfacial debonding, depending on many material properties, geometric dimensions, boundary and loading conditions. Most existing numerical models are unable to reproduce these failure modes that may occur simultaneously or sequentially in a specimen, mainly due to difficulties in generating finite element meshes with a large number of randomly-oriented fibres. Herein we develop a discrete-continuum coupled finite element modelling approach for FRC materials capable of effectively simulating all the major failure modes. The continuum damaged plasticity model is used to simulate damage and fracture behaviour of the mortar, while debonding of fibre-mortar interfaces is modelled by nonlinear cohesive interfacial elements. Unique techniques are devised to generate conforming meshes between fibres and the surrounding mortar so that the randomly-oriented fibres are easily modelled. The modelling approach is validated by simulating single fibre pullout tests with different inclination angles, notched and non-notched direct tensile tests and three-point bending beam tests with randomly-distributed multiple fibres.

• OSTI ID: 22806467
• Journal Information: Cement and Concrete Research, Journal Name: Cement and Concrete Research Vol. 106; ISSN 0008-8846; ISSN CCNRAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
42 ENGINEERING
BENDING
CRUSHING
DAMAGE
DIMENSIONS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FRACTURES
MORTARS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NOTCHES
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PLASTICITY
REINFORCED CONCRETE
SCALE MODELS
STATIC LOADS