Numerical Simulation of GRC Mechanical Behavior
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 6
Abstract
Glass fiber-reinforced concrete (GRC) is a material made of a cementitious matrix composed of cement, sand, water, and admixtures, in which short-length glass fibers are dispersed. It has been widely used in the construction industry for nonstructural elements, especially façade panels. Based on the recent results of a research project, this material was applied to the fabrication of structural elements, namely, 30-m-high telecommunication towers and pedestrian bridges. In these structures, the effects of cyclic loads, like wind, earthquakes, or pedestrian circulation, are important, and the corresponding GRC behavior has to be considered in their structural design. This paper focuses on the experimental evaluation and numerical modeling of GRC mechanical behavior. Based on the results of experimental tests on material samples, a numerical model was developed to reproduce the cyclic and monotonic behavior of GRC. This numerical model was then used to assess the structural behavior of GRC telecommunication towers.
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Acknowledgments
The writers wish to thank the financial support of the European Commission for the research developed within project “STRUCTA-GRC BES2-5315.”
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© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 12, 2005
Accepted: Sep 18, 2006
Published online: Jun 1, 2007
Published in print: Jun 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Zhishen Wu
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