A mesoscale model for multiple cracking behavior of strain-hardening cementitious composites

Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC) is composed of fiber, mortar, and fiber-matrix interface, which performs tensile strain-hardening behavior and multiple cracking. The tensile properties of SHCC are affected by multiple factors due to its complexity material compositions. In this paper, a three-dimensional mesoscale finite element model of SHCC involving fiber, mortar, and fiber-matrix interface is established to predict the characteristics of tension and multiple cracking. Based on the single fiber pull-out tests, a joint fiber-matrix constitutive model for the truss element is proposed to represent the interaction between the fiber and the fibermatrix interface. The proposed model agrees well with the experiment. Based on the validated model, a parametric study is conducted on the mortar tensile strength, frictional bond strength, chemical bond strength, and PVA slip-hardening coefficient, which provides instructive support for the design of SHCC.