Microplane model M6F for fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract

The new microplane model M6f for fiber reinforced concrete features several improvements over the earlier versions: (i) An explicit volumetric-deviatoric split to no split transition formulation in tension which eliminates spurious contraction under tension that the earlier models suffered; (ii) tension-compression load cycles are now correctly simulated using the loading/unloading rules prescribed in the transition function; (iii) a new micro- macro stress equilibrium equation in which the work of volumetric stresses on deviatoric strains and the work of deviatioric stresses on volumetric strains are explicitly accounted for is introduced to correctly model the pressure sensitive dilatant behavior of low to normal strength concretes; (iv) the volumetric boundary is made a function of the maximum principal strain difference in addition to the volumetric strains, so as to extend the data fitting capability to lower strength concretes; (v) the cohesion in the friction boundary now approaches zero linearly, instead of asymptotically with growing tensile volumetric strains, so as to generate an earlier decaying tail in the uniaxial tension and compression. The material behavior has been verified against various test data from the literature. The fits have been improved compared to the previous versions of the model.