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Fiber–Matrix Interactions in Fiber-Reinforced Concrete: A Review

  • Review Article – Civil Engineering
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Abstract

A significant breakthrough in concrete technology was achieved using fibers to reinforce concrete. Various researchers have reported that fiber reinforcement can alter the brittleness of concrete. The efficiency of fiber reinforcement is based on the fiber–matrix interactions. The understanding of these interactions is a challenging engineering problem, where the frictional bond governs and the physical/chemical bond plays a minor role. This problem is extremely sophisticated because of the following nonlinear interactions: interfacial debonding, plastic material deformations, mechanical bond deformations, and frictional sliding. This paper reports a comprehensive and up-to-date literature review on the fiber–matrix interactions, and physical and theoretical modeling of the fiber–matrix interactions is reported in detail. In addition, the most important conclusions of the parametric studies of the fiber–matrix interfacial bond are summarized. The information of the pullout test standardization to assess the fiber–matrix behavior of a fiber-reinforced concrete is reviewed. The current research in the area of fiber–matrix interactions of fiber-reinforced concrete are discussed.

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Abbreviations

\({A_{\rm m}, A_{\rm f} ,A_{\rm b}}\) :

The cross-sectional area of the matrix, the fiber and a concrete member, respectively

\({E_{\rm c} ,E_{\rm f} ,E_{\rm m}}\) :

Moduli of elasticity for the composite, fiber and matrix, respectively

\({K_{\rm IC}}\) :

Plane strain fracture toughness

\({L_{\rm c}}\) :

Critical length of the fiber

\({L_{\rm p}}\) :

The maximum length of the fiber at which instantaneous pullout of fiber occurs

\({L_{\rm t}}\) :

The minimum length of the fiber at which a tensile failure occurs without debonding

\({P}\) :

Shear force along the fiber–matrix interface

\({P_{\rm t}}\) :

the applied pullout load

k :

A constant correlates the relation between shear stress on the fiber–matrix interface and the corresponding relative slippage

\({l_{\rm e}}\) :

The embedded length of fibers

\({n,d_{\rm f}}\) :

Number and diameter of the fibers, respectively

s :

Slippage of the fiber due to pullout force

u :

Length of the debonded zone

x :

Variable distance parallel to the fiber length

\({\varepsilon _{\rm u}}\) :

The ultimate strain of the matrix.

\({\varepsilon _{\rm e}}\) :

The strain of the matrix corresponding to the first crack stress.

\({\tau _{\rm o}}\) :

The limiting interfacial bond strength neglecting the Poisson’s effect on fibers

\({\tau _{{\rm fd}}}\) :

the decreasing frictional bond stress corresponding to the end slip after full debonding

\({\eta}\) :

Coefficient based of the shape of the load–slip curve. It can be assumed to be equal to 0.2 for straight fibers

\({\sigma _{\rm f}}\) :

Tensile strength of fiber

\({\gamma _{\rm m}}\) :

The work of fracture of the matrix

\({{\tau}'}\) :

Frictional shear stress at fiber–matrix interface

\({\tau}\) :

Shear strength for fiber–matrix interface

\({\psi}\) :

The spacing between fibers

\({\upsilon_{\rm f} ,\upsilon_{\rm m}}\) :

The Poisson’s ratio for the fiber and the matrix, respectively

\({\delta}\) :

Fiber orientation factor

\({\Delta ,\Delta _{\rm o}}\) :

Fiber displacement response of after complete pullout and at the end of complete pullout

\({\zeta}\) :

Damage coefficient taking a value between 0 and 1

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P. O. Box 800, 11421, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Yassir M. Abbas & M. Iqbal Khan

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Abbas, Y.M., Iqbal Khan, M. Fiber–Matrix Interactions in Fiber-Reinforced Concrete: A Review. Arab J Sci Eng 41, 1183–1198 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-016-2099-1

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