Discrete element model of absorbed energy in fiber bridging zone of polymer reinforced cemented matrix

Discrete element method (DEM) was here used to model consumed energy in fiber bridging zone of cemented matrix reinforced by polypropylene fibers. For this purpose, after experimentally evaluating fracture parameters of plain and reinforced matrix, critical crack energy, critical strain energy release rate and absorbed energy in the bridging zone were estimated based on DEM modeling Brazilian test applied to a disc shape specimen containing a central crack. The obtained results illustrated that the fibers increased the crack energy, which was obtained by deducting the strain energy from total work done for fracture, and the fracture toughness by absorbing energy in the fiber bridging zone