Layered Finite Element (FE) modelling of structural concrete beams non-uniformly reinforced with carbon textile fabrics

Textile Reinforced Cementitious (TRC) composites can be used as an alternative to traditional load-bearing materials due to their high tuneability, slenderness and freedom-of-form. The modelling of TRCs is traditionally subdivided in discrete and smeared approaches. Discrete approaches model the rei...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials and structures 2021-10, Vol.54 (5), Article 183
Main Authors: El Kadi, M., Nahum, L., Peled, A., Tysmans, T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bearing materials
Building construction
Building Materials
Civil Engineering
Engineering
Finite element method
Machines
Manufacturing
Materials Science
Mechanical properties
Modelling
Original Article
Processes
Reinforcement
Shear zone
Simulation
Solid Mechanics
Stiffness
Textiles
Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
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Summary:Textile Reinforced Cementitious (TRC) composites can be used as an alternative to traditional load-bearing materials due to their high tuneability, slenderness and freedom-of-form. The modelling of TRCs is traditionally subdivided in discrete and smeared approaches. Discrete approaches model the reinforcement and matrix separately but require a bond characterization whereas smeared approaches distribute the mechanical properties evenly over the cross-section. The flexural behaviour of TRCs where the reinforcement is non-uniformly distributed over the height is strongly influenced by the position of the textiles and can therefore not be predicted by fully smeared simulations. Semi-smeared approaches solve these challenges by discretely stacking smeared layers with individual mechanical properties and compromise between discrete and smeared approaches. This research presents a detailed explanation of a semi-smeared, layered Finite Element (FE) model and validates it by experiments on TRC beams with non-uniform and non-balanced longitudinal and shear reinforcement layers. Two different layup alternatives were simulated. The simulations showed a good agreement with the experiments and highlighted the ability of the model to predict the pre- and post-cracking flexural stiffness. Furthermore, investigation of the simulated stress and strain distributions in the flexural shear zones highlighted the ability of semi-smeared models to endorse experimentally observed failure phenomena.
ISSN:1359-5997
1871-6873
DOI:10.1617/s11527-021-01776-w