TENSILE FRACTURE ANALYSIS OF STRAIN HARDENING CEMENTITIOUS COMPOSITES BY MEANS OF 3D MESO-SCALE ANALYSIS SUBJECTED TO DISCRETIZED SHORT FIBERS

Abstract

  This paper presents the results of fracture analysis by means of three-dimensional meso-scale analysis concerning discretized short fibers. This technique can consider the mechanical properties of matrix, fiber and their interface. The tensile fracture analyses were conducted for two kind of Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC). (i.e. Engineered Cementitous Composites, ECC and Ultra High Performance Strain Hardening Cementitous Composites, UHP-SHCC). Fracture behaviors including strain hardening behavior and multiple fine cracking were roughly simulated through the developed technique. Parametric studies concerning fiber distribution, variation of matrix strength and fracture energy were also carried out to interpret the fracture mechanism of strain hardeing materials. It was clarified that homogeneity of fiber distribution and heterogeneity of matrix were important parameters to obtain higher strength and strain capacity of the composites.