Materials

Ultra-High Performance Concrete Compression and Fracture Response Parameters for Lattice Discrete Particle Model Simulations

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Abstract

Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) simulation parameters are obtained for Lafarge Ductal Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) from unconfined compression, fracture, and direct tension tests. The LDPM predicts macroscopic behavior of concrete including compression, shear, and flexure limit states, through mesoscale constitutive relationships. The volume and orientation of fibers were considered as test variables. The experimental results showed a 7% increase in the ultimate compression strength when fibers, 2% by volume, were introduced in the UHPC matrix. The post-peak load carrying capacity also improved where the material maintained 50% of its ultimate carrying capacity at an axial strain 157% greater than the ultimate strain with a 4% fiber volume content. In the fracture tests, the peak load increased by a factor of 5 with the inclusion of 2% fibers by volume and by a factor of 6 when these fibers were oriented perpendicular to the crack plane. The post-peak loads also improved with increasing fiber content. LDPM parameters were obtained by simulating the material tests relevant to plain UHPC (without fiber reinforcement) and comparing the results to experimental data. The simulations will be coupled with fiber-pullout models to validate the model predictive capabilities for fiber-reinforced UHPC in support of a larger research effort to bring simulation-based analysis and design to concrete codes and standards.

Keywords: compression, tension, fibers, UHPC, material characterization, LDPM, fracture

How to Cite:

Cusatis, G., El-Helou, R. G., Lale, E. & Moen, C. D., (2016) “Ultra-High Performance Concrete Compression and Fracture Response Parameters for Lattice Discrete Particle Model Simulations”, International Interactive Symposium on Ultra-High Performance Concrete 1(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.21838/uhpc.2016.15