Multiple Cracking Sequence and Saturation in Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Abstract

This study has aimed at clarifying the sequence and saturation of multiple cracking evolution in Random Short Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites with Pseudo Strain Hardening Behavior (PSH-RSFR-CCs). For this purpose, uniaxial tensile tests were conducted with Polyethylene fiber composites. Unsaturated multiple crack evolution was observed as well as saturated evolution in these tests depending on fiber volume fraction and testing age. Plausible mechanisms were suggested to characterize these two crack evolution types. Furthermore, two micromechanics based performance indices were proposed as measures of crack saturation.