Micromechanics of Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Abstract

The strain hardening and tension softening response of short fiber‐reinforced cementitious composites under unidirectional tensile/flexural loading is modelled using concepts from fracture and damage mechanics. The tensile strain hardening in these composites is due to the formation of microcracks which are however prevented from coalescing by the bridging action of the fibers. The density of microcracks increases with increasing tensile/flexural loading until it reaches a saturation level at the tensile load carrying capacity of the composite. Thereafter the fibers progressively debond from the elastic matrix and the deformation begins to localise in the eventual fracture plane, first as unconnected cracks and later as a connected through crack subjected to the residual frictional bridging action by the fibers.

A Comprehensive Review of Types, Properties, Treatment Methods and Application of Plant Fibers in Construction and Building Materials

“…The performance of a structure cannot be gauged by its compressive strength only, as its toughness parameter also contributes to its overall performance [268,269]. Hence, the dispersed plant fibers are usually incorporated in brittle cementitious composites to increase their toughness with minimal or no loss of compressive strength [270]. The enhanced compressive strength in the case of some plant-fiber-reinforced cementitious composites is an added bonus.…”

Repair and Retrofit of Bridge structural elements: New Cementitious Materials

“…The development of reactor powder concrete [14] and with it the ability to tailor the concrete characteristics to the desired needs has led to investigations on the possible use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for repair and strengthening of structural concrete elements. Studies [15], have examined the micro-mechanical aspects of high performance fibre reinforced concrete. The study has modelled the progressive reduction in stiffness in high performance fibre reinforced concrete due to nucleation of micro-cracks by considering an array of micro-cracks acted on by fibre closure pressure in the least favourable direction relative to the applied stress.…”