Finite Element and Post-Crack Analysis of Fiber Reinforced Concrete Pavement Structures

Potentially useful improvements in the mechanical behaviour of concrete can be achieved by incorporating fibers in the concrete matrix while it is being poured. In this study an analytical investigation was performed using a finite element analysis where various materials and geometrical parameters were included in different sets of numerical models. The purpose of these models was to acquire an understanding of the behaviour of fiber reinforced concrete during different stages of fatigue cracking. Several concrete pavements were studied by using different input parameters for the computer program. The aim of the study was to compare the performances of normal concrete pavements, fiber reinforced concrete pavements and concrete pavement structures reinforced with common steel meshes. Furthermore, a post crack analysis of the concrete structures above mentioned in flexure was performed in order to assess the effective improvements of the pavements themselves after the first crack occurred, due to the addition of fibres in the concrete matrix. In particular, among the others, special polymer modified fiber were used, the results being very significant. The analysis included the determination of various parameters for different sets of fiber reinforced concrete specimens, such as first crack load, first crack deflection, first crack toughness, toughness indices and residual strength factors.