Title: Hybrid Rotating/Fixed-Crack Model for High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Author(s): Chung-Chan Hung and Sherif El-Tawil

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 107

Issue: 6

Appears on pages(s): 569-577

Keywords: fixed-crack approach; high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites; orthogonal; plane stress; rotating crack approach; shear retention factor

DOI: 10.14359/51664043

Date: 11/1/2010

Abstract:
High-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (HPFRCC) materials are distinguished from conventional concrete materials by their unique strain-hardening behavior in tension, which translates into enhanced shear and bending resistance at the structural level. The favorable properties of HPFRCC have motivated researchers to explore using the material to replace traditional concrete in critical elements of a structure. To predict the behavior of HPFRCC components under various loading conditions, a material model based on a plane stress, orthogonal, hybrid rotating/fixed crack approach was developed in this study. The developed material model addresses the material’s pronounced strain hardening behavior and takes into account its loading/unloading/reloading characteristics. The validity of the developed material model is shown through extensive comparisons between experimental data and numerical results for test specimens exhibiting varied structural responses. The comparison results indicate that the developed HPFRCC material model is capable of simulating the behavior of HPFRCC structures with reasonable accuracy.