Modeling of Bridging Law for Bundled Aramid Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composite and its Adaptability in Crack Width Evaluation

Tensile performance of fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (FRCC) after first cracking is characterized by fiber-bridging stress–crack width relationships called bridging law. The bridging law can be calculated by an integral calculus of forces carried by individual fibers, considering the fiber orientation. The objective of this study was to propose a simplified model of bridging law for bundled aramid fiber, considering fiber orientation for the practical use. By using the pullout characteristic of bundled aramid fiber obtained in the previous study, the bridging laws were calculated for various cases of fiber orientation. The calculated results were expressed by a bilinear model, and each characteristic point is expressed by the function of fiber-orientation intensity. After that, uniaxial tension tests of steel reinforced aramid-FRCC prism specimens were conducted to obtain the crack-opening behavior and confirm the adaptability of the modeled bridging laws in crack-width evaluation. The experimental parameters are cross-sectional dimensions of specimens and volume fraction of fiber. The test results are compared with the theoretical curves calculated by using the modeled bridging law and show good agreements in each parameter.