Sisal fiber reinforced hollow concrete blocks for structural applications: Testing and modeling

An experimental programme was carried out to investigate the mechanical behavior of masonry elements made of concrete and natural sisal fibers. Compression tests were carried out on individual hollow blocks, as well as on prisms and wallettes made of hollow blocks. For comparison, the mechanical response of companion plain concrete specimens was also assessed. The results of the tests are presented, and the influence of the sisal fibers on the mechanical properties of the elements is discussed. Numerical models were also developed to predict the nonlinear behavior of the blocks. The parameters and the boundary conditions that define the models are calibrated to match the experimental load-displacement curves. A qualitative description of the damage evolution in the elements using the smeared crack model implemented in the commercial FE program DIANA and the XFEM implemented in Abaqus is obtained. The experimental and numerical results are critically discussed, and possible future improvements of the proposed models are outlined.