Applications of stress crack width relationship in predicting the flexural behavior of fibre-reinforced concrete

A semi-analytical model for the flexure behaviour of fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) materials has been presented based on the equilibrium of fore in the critical cracked section. The model relies on the bridging law, the so-called stress-crack width relation, as the fundamental constitutive relationship in tension. A good agreement has been found between the model predictions and experimental results. as well as between finite element calculations in terms of load-crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) and load-deflection diagrams. This model's results lead to the conclusion that the flexure performance of FRC materials is strongly influenced by the stress-crack width relationship. The optimum flexure behaviour of FRC materials optimizes the bond properties of aggregate/matrix and fibre/matrix interfaces. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.