Title: High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cement Composites: An Alternative for Seismic Design of Structures

Author(s): Gustavo J. Parra-Montesinos

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 102

Issue: 5

Appears on pages(s): 668-675

Keywords: beams; fibers; joints; shear; walls

DOI: 10.14359/14662

Date: 9/1/2005

Abstract:
An overview of recent applications of tensile strain-hardening, high-performance fiber-reinforced cement composites (HPFRCCs) in earthquake-resistant structures is presented. Applications discussed include members with shear-dominated response such as beam-column connections, low-rise walls, and coupling beams, as well as flexural members subjected to large displacement reversals. The results presented in this paper show that HPFRCC materials are effective in increasing shear strength, displacement capacity, and damage tolerance in members subjected to large inelastic deformations. The use of HPFRCCs in beam-column connections allowed total elimination of joint transverse reinforcement while leading to outstanding damage tolerance. Similarly, HPFRCC low-rise walls exhibited drift capacities larger than 2.0% with only minor damage at drifts ranging between 1.0 to 1.5%. One of the most encouraging results was observed in HPFRCC flexural members unreinforced in shear, which sustained reversed cyclic shear stresses as high as 2.7 MPa up to 6.0% plastic hinge rotation.