Evaluation of Crack Propagation and Post-cracking Hinge-type Behavior in the Flexural Response of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete

• Main Authors: Sahith Gali, Kolluru V. L. Subramaniam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2017-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• Subjects: steel fibers; toughness; crack opening; post cracking response; softening; fracture
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40069-017-0197-4
• ISSN: 1976-0485; 2234-1315

Abstract An experimental evaluation of crack propagation and post-cracking behavior in steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams, using full-field displacements obtained from the digital image correlation technique is presented. Surface displacements and strains during the fracture test of notched SFRC beams with volume fractions (Vf) of steel fibers equal to 0.5 and 0.75% are analyzed. An analysis procedure for determining the crack opening width over the depth of the beam during crack propagation in the flexure test is presented. The crack opening width is established as a function of the crack tip opening displacement and the residual flexural strength of SFRC beams. The softening in the post-peak load response is associated with the rapid surface crack propagation for small increases in crack tip opening displacement. The load recovery in the flexural response of SFRC is associated with a hinge-type behavior in the beam. For the stress gradient produced by flexure, the hinge is established before load recovery is initiated. The resistance provided by the fibers to the opening of the hinge produces the load recovery in the flexural response.