Lattice discrete particle modeling of fiber reinforced concrete: Experiments and simulations

•The paper investigates experimentally and numerically the toughening mechanisms of fibers embedded in a cementitious matrix.•The experimental study considers both steel fibers as well as plastic fiber.•The adopted computational model is capable to reproduce the main features of the composite material.•The results highlight the importance of good dispersion of the fiber within the matrix for optimal performance and for meaningful comparison with computations.

Naturally accounting for material heterogeneity, the Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) is a meso-scale model developed recently to simulate the meso-structure of quasi-brittle materials by a three-dimensional (3D) assemblage of polyhedral particles. A meso-scale constitutive law governs the interaction between adjacent particles and simulates various features of the meso-scale response, including cohesive fracturing, strain softening in tension, strain hardening in compression and material compaction due to pore collapse. LDPM has been extensively calibrated/validated, showing superior capabilities in predicting qualitative and quantitative behavior of concrete. As a natural extension for this discrete model to include the effect of dispersed fibers as discrete entities within the meso-structure, LDPM-F incorporates this effect by modeling individual fibers, randomly placed within the volume according to a given fiber volume fraction. In this investigation, the theoretical basis for LDPM-F is reviewed, and to calibrate/validate the numerical model, an extensive experimental study has been conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of various prismatic specimens containing different types (steel and synthetic) and dosages of fibers. Excellent predictive capability of LDPM-F is demonstrated through a rigorous calibration/validation procedure.

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