Rational finite element assisted design of precast steel fibre reinforced concrete pipes

• A rational design tool for precast SFRC pipes was proposed.
• Non-linear 3D finite element model was developed to simulate the three-edge-bearing test.
• The model was validated using experimental data on full-scale SFRC pipes.
• The model reasonably simulated load-deformation curves of SFRC pipes under the three-edge-bearing test.
• The findings were presented in a tabular form that can be used as a supplementary design aid.

There has been growing interest to introduce steel fibres in precast concrete pipes as a replacement for regular reinforcement. Several experimental studies have been conducted in order to determine the optimal fibre content for various pipe design scenarios. However, there is still need for more inclusive and comprehensible design approaches. This paper aims at developing a rational design tool for precast SFRC pipes. For this purpose, a non-linear 3D finite element model was developed to simulate the three-edge-bearing test. The model was verified using experimental data generated previously by the authors on full-scale SFRC pipes as well as other data available in the open literature. The model was capable of reasonably simulating the load-deformation curves of SFRC pipes tested using the three-edge-bearing method. The average error in model-predicted ultimate D-loads was about 6.5% on the conservative side. Subsequently, a parametric study was conducted. The pipe diameter, pipe wall thickness, fibre type and content, concrete compressive strength, and targeted pipe strength were the parameters under investigation. The findings of the parametric study were presented in a tabular form that can be used as a design aid supplementary to the ASTM C1765 standard.