Computational modeling of the response and damage behavior of fiber reinforced cellular concrete

Abstract

A computational model is presented to predict the effective mechanical behavior and damage evolution in fiber reinforced cellular concrete (FRCC). The effective moduli of the FRCC are formulated based on the Eshelby's micromechanics and the orientational averaging process. The effects of random dispersion and orientation of inclusions are accommodated. Damage models are subsequently considered in accordance with the Weibull's probabilistic function to describe the varying probability of progressive fiber debonding and the continuum damage law proposed by Karihaloo and Fu [Eur. J. Mech. A 8 (1989) 62; ACI Mater. J. 87 (1990) 62] to model the nucleation of microvoids in the cement matrix. The constitutive model incorporating the damage mechanisms is then implemented into a finite element code to predict the performance of FRCC. The computational model is exercised to predict the performance of a typical fiber reinforced concrete to show the potential of the model. Finally, the prediction based on the computational model is compared with the experimental data to assess the capability of the model for predicting the performance of FRCC. The results show that the proposed computational model is a viable analytical and numerical tool for accurate evaluation of the performance of FRCC. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.