Dynamic mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced concrete: A review

Concrete composites used in civil and military infrastructure are susceptible to catastrophic failure under intense sudden blasts or explosions. These types of infrastructure must therefore be rendered less susceptible to failure through the adoption of materials with a high energy absorption capacity. In recent years, fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has drawn extensive attention owing to its superior impact and blast resistance, and a higher toughness than conventional concrete. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the mechanical properties of FRC at high strain rates. The review covers the following aspects: (1) the advantages and deficiencies of typical test equipment used to determine the dynamic mechanical properties of FRC; (2) research progress on the dynamic compressive and tensile behaviors of FRC, including their strength, strain capacity, and energy absorption capacity; (3) dynamic increase factor (DIF) prediction models for FRC under compression and tension for quasi-static, intermediate, and high strain rates; (4) a summary and analysis of the theoretical basis, characteristics, development status, main achievements, advantages, and limitations of various dynamic constitutive models, including the revised static constitutive, viscoelastic, plastic, thermodynamic, and neural network models; (5) dynamic triaxial mechanical response and failure mechanisms of FRC; (6) numerical simulation methods and models that describe dynamic compression, tensile properties, and pullout behaviors at high strain rates. The aim of this review is to advance our fundamental knowledge of the dynamic properties of FRC, and promote further research into its characteristics and applications.