A computational model for failure analysis of fibre reinforced concrete with discrete treatment of fibres

Failure patterns and mechanical behaviour of high-performance fibre reinforced cementitious composites depend on the distribution of fibres within a specimen. In this contribution, we propose a novel computational approach to describe failure processes in fibre reinforced concrete. A discrete treatment of fibres enables us to study the influence of various fibre distributions on the mechanical properties of the material. To ensure numerical efficiency, fibres are not explicitly discretized but they are modelled by applying discrete forces to a background mesh. The background mesh represents the matrix while the discrete forces represent the interaction between fibres and matrix. These forces are assumed to be equal to fibre pull-out forces. With this approach experimental data or micro mechanical models, including detailed information about the fibre–matrix interface, can be directly incorporated into the model.