Analytical modeling of the bending behavior of textile reinforced mineral matrix composite beams

The object of this paper is to propose an analytical model for the interpretation of the overall bending behavior of textile reinforced mineral matrix composite beams. The composite material is made from inorganic phosphate cement (IPC) and E-glass fiber reinforcements (unidirectional rovings and chopped strand mat). Experimental results related to the mechanical characterization of the composite material in tension and shear, as well as the analysis in four-point bending tests of different beams, were presented in a previous paper where it was noted that the shear characteristics of the composite material define the load-bearing capacity of the beams. In order to use the full potential of the composite material, it was necessary to strengthen the beams with braiding and wrapping. The analytical modeling approach, based on composite and classical beam theories, is used to reconstruct the overall behavior of beams, taking into account the mechanical characteristics of the different materials constituting the beams. The assessment of shear load-bearing capacity is therefore based on the contribution of each component of the beam: the composite material itself and the applied strengthening. The comparison of experimental results and analytical results shows that the proposed models fit well with the actual behavior.