Cyclic constitutive model for strain-hardening cementitious composites

Abstract

A uniaxial cyclic constitutive model for strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCCs) is proposed based on the response of the material at the stress–strain level under different loading regimes. The ascending branch of the compressive envelope curve was developed using the form of a parabolic curve, while the descending branch adopted the bilinear form. The full tensile stress–strain curve was approximately simulated by a trilinear form comprising ascending, strain-hardening and descending branches. Using the method of setting a reference point, the characteristics of the unloading and reloading process were determined, with consideration of the partial unloading–reloading scheme. Furthermore, the transition between tension and compression was taken into account in the model development. The proposed cyclic constitutive model was coded into the OpenSees platform and applied to simulate the responses of specimens at material and member levels. The simulation results indicate that the proposed model is reasonably accurate in simulating the mechanical properties of SHCC material and the cyclic behaviour of SHCC flexural elements.