Finite Element Modeling of Compressive and Splitting Tensile Behavior of Plain Concrete and Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Cylinder Specimens

Md Arman Chowdhury,Zubayer Ibna Zahid,Md Mashfiqul Islam

doi:10.1155/2016/6579434

Md Arman Chowdhury, Zubayer Ibna Zahid + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6579434

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Abstract

Plain concrete and steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) cylinder specimens are modeled in the finite element (FE) platform of ANSYS 10.0 and validated with the experimental results and failure patterns. Experimental investigations are conducted to study the increase in compressive and tensile capacity of cylindrical specimens made of stone and brick concrete and SFRC. Satisfactory compressive and tensile capacity improvement is observed by adding steel fibers of 1.5% volumetric ratio. A total of 8 numbers of cylinder specimens are cast and tested in 1000 kN capacity digital universal testing machine (UTM) and also modeled in ANSYS. The enhancement of compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of SFRC specimen is achieved up to 17% and 146%, respectively, compared to respective plain concrete specimen. Results gathered from finite element analyses are validated with the experimental test results by identifying as well as optimizing the controlling parameters to make FE models. Modulus of elasticity, Poisson’s ratio, stress-strain behavior, tensile strength, density, and shear transfer coefficients for open and closed cracks are found to be the main governing parameters for successful model of plain concrete and SFRC in FE platform. After proper evaluation and logical optimization of these parameters by extensive analyses, finite element (FE) models showed a good correlation with the experimental results.

Highlights

Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is a cement-based material reinforced with short discrete steel fibers randomly distributed in the concrete matrix
The finite element (FE) models created on the ANSYS 10.0 platform are found capable of estimating the compressive and tensile behavior of plain concrete and the enhanced stress field for steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) made of brick and stone aggregates
It is evident that the FE models show slightly conservative results compared to experimental investigations, which ensures adequate factor of safety

Summary

Introduction

Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is a cement-based material reinforced with short discrete steel fibers randomly distributed in the concrete matrix. Strength and ductility of structures depend mainly on proper detailing of the reinforcement in structural members. Brittle failure of these members may lead to catastrophic damage to the structure and the people living on these structures. To increase the ductility of the structural members, construction of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) can be an efficient technique. In the history of modern structural concrete, compressive strength is one of the most important properties, if not the most important one, in terms of verifying acceptability of a wide range of concrete behaviors to a structure’s performance [1]. The use of SFRC in such columns may permit a reduction in the amount of transverse reinforcement, leading to improved constructability [2]

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