New Method for Simulation the Flexural Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Concretes With Combining the Finite Element and Section Moment Curvature

Abstract

Fiber reinforced concrete in tension is categorized based on tension softening behavior. Wide researchers have been studied this behavior and presented many tension softening models. With regard to the difficulties in direct tension test, tension softening diagram will be obtained a base on reverse analysis of flexural or split wedge test. The result of the inverse analysis method is mainly affected by applied assumptions. In this research, a new method which combines the finite element and section moment-curvature relations is presented. This method is called FE-SMC. In this study, the three-point bending test has been stimulated by this method. In each step of loading, the nonlinearity of cracked section properties have been calculated with moment-curvature relationships and the parameters have been updated in FE. The arc length method has been used for iterations solution. Finally, this method is validated with some experimental test results. The results show that FE-SMC method show desirable result for low-fiber content with descending tension softening diagram. Also using this method in some experimental results with constant tension softening or hardening behavior, do not meet the required fitting criteria and show deficiency in applied assumption and need to modifications.

Keywords

• fiber reinforced concrete
• tension softening
• three-point/four-point bending test
• finite element method
• sectional moment-curvature analyze