Fracture and Size Effect of PFRC Specimens Simulated by Using a Trilinear Softening Diagram: A Predictive Approach

The size effect on plain concrete specimens is well known and can be correctly captured when performing numerical simulations by using a characterised softening function. Nevertheless, in the case of polyolefin-fibre-reinforced (PFRC), this not directly applicable, since only diagram cannot capture material behaviour elements with different sizes due to dependence orientation factor fibres specimen. In previous works, use trilinear proved very convenient for reproducing fracture elements, but if it previously adapted each specimen size. work, predictive methodology used reproduce under three-point bending. Fracture reproduced means well-known embedded cohesive model, function that defined specifically fundamental points these functions are priori empirical expressions proposed past based an extensive experimental background. Therefore, results obtained manner then compared campaign which PFRC notched were tested bending test setup, showing approach properly captures effect, although some values could more accurately.