Very High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (VHPFRC) Testing and Finite Element Analysis

In past recent years, high-performance fiber-reinforced concretes (HPFRCs) have been studied by researchers and practitioners for applications in the construction industry. Due to the characteristics of the different mixtures, these materials appear to fulfill a large wide of requirements in structural concrete applications. Different authors have investigated the behavior of such materials, by observing that the contribution of fibers may strongly increase the mechanical properties of plain concrete. This paper reports research on very high-performance concrete (VHPC) reinforced with polymeric fibers and having self-consolidating concrete (SCC) features. A possible application of the studied materials is referred to as panel elements used as building façades. A special concrete mixture has been studied, thus the compressive strength had a target of 120 MPa (17.4 ksi) after 28 days. Flexural tests of notched beams were conducted according to EN 14651. The results obtained were used to implement a numerical model of the VHPFRC panel into two different FEA software (Abaqus & Midas FEA) for the simulation of impact resistance and structural response under UDL (uniformly distributed loading). Results obtained from the analysis showed that the addition of short fibers allows obtaining a higher target of mechanical properties concerning plain concrete, allowing possible new applications of panels without internal traditional reinforcement and reduced thickness.