Probabilistic Analysis for Strain-Hardening Behavior of High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete.

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Materials Science
• Structural Engineering

Background:

• Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) offers enhanced tensile strength, durability, and crack control in structural components.
• Existing analytical models primarily focus on tension-softening behavior, limiting their application to high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC).
• HPFRC exhibits strain-hardening behavior, necessitating advanced models to capture its multiple cracking mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a probabilistic analytical technique for evaluating the strain-hardening behavior of HPFRC.
• To address the limitations of current models in assessing multiple cracking in HPFRC.
• To provide a reliable method for predicting the structural performance of HPFRC members.

Main Methods:

• A probabilistic analytical technique employing the simplified diverse embedment model (SDEM) was utilized.
• HPFRC members were modeled using multiple segments, accounting for the probable number of cracks.
• Material properties were assumed to follow a normal probability distribution and were randomly assigned to segments.
• 10,000 analyses were conducted for each case, with validation against experimental data.

Main Results:

• The developed probabilistic technique reasonably predicts the strain-hardening tensile behavior of HPFRC members.
• The accuracy of the prediction is influenced by the number of segments chosen, based on fiber length.
• The model effectively captures the complex multiple cracking mechanisms characteristic of HPFRC.

Conclusions:

• The probabilistic analytical technique offers a reliable approach for assessing HPFRC structural behavior.
• The SDEM, combined with probabilistic analysis, successfully models the strain-hardening response of HPFRC.
• This method enhances the structural assessment capabilities for advanced concrete materials.