Modelling cracking and bending failure of SFRC beams with conventional reinforcement

Paper i proceeding, 2013

In this study three beams, with varying contents of steel fibre reinforcement, were tested in four point bending and compared with results from FE-analysis. The beams were part of a larger experimental programme where relevant material properties were investigated. FE-modelling was performed using a two dimensional model. Concrete was represented by four-node quadrilateral isoperimetric plane stress elements. The smeared crack approach was utilized and the stress-strain relation describing the tensile behavior of the concrete was calculated from uni-axial test results, assuming the crack bandwidth to be equal to the element length. In compression, the concrete was assumed to behave elasto ideal-plastic. The reinforcement was modelled by straight 2-node truss elements connected to the concrete by two-dimensional interface elements providing the bond-slip properties. A material model including hardening effects was derived from tension tests of reinforcement bars and used for modelling the conventional reinforcement. A multi-linear bond-slip model was established through pull-out tests. As an alternative, analyses were also performed taking into account a reduction of the bond stress after yielding of the reinforcement occurred. Loading was applied in two phases: the first comprehending only the self-weight, while incremental loading was applied by deformation control during the second phase. General agreement between experiments and FE-analyses was obtained with regard to load-displacement behaviour. By observing the crack patterns, both from FE-analysis and experiments, it can be concluded that the general behaviour agreed; however, in the analyses not all cracks were fully localized. A higher degree of crack localization was obtained when the bond loss at yielding was included.