Flexural response of TRM subjected to low-velocity impact loads: Experimental and analytical study

Abstract

A constitutive approach to investigate the flexural impact performance of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) is presented in this study. Experiments were performed under three-point bending conditions on a drop-weight impact system at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 4.5 m/s. Experimental results showed that the differences in peak load from 4.5 to 1 m/s were 1.964 kN (for BTRM-4) and 2.191 kN (for BTRM-6), and in energy absorption from 4.5 m/s to 1 m/s incident velocities were 2.66 J (for BTRM-4) and 2.98 J (for BTRM-6). Additionally, analytical modeling of experimental results was performed to identify the correlation between the experimental and analytical results. The parameters for a strain-hardening material model were obtained by using closed-form equations. The prepared model could reproduce a tripartite load-displacement response related to pre-cracking and post-cracking behavior. The results also verified that the best agreement between the analytical model and experimental data was achieved by considering scattering, softening, and reinforcement waviness in cement matrix under different loadings. The tensile properties of the tested samples were predicted by using an inverse algorithm and model parameters. Notably, the parametric model overpredicted the simulated three stages of TRM composites. Results could be used as average load values in the structural design and analysis of cement-based material composites under different impact loads.