Finite element analysis of flexural performance of polypropylene fiber self compacting concrete beams

According to the fiber spacing theory developed based on fracture mechanics, polypropylene fibers are incorporated into polycarboxylate modified cementitious materials to obtain ordinary self compacting concrete, 12mm polypropylene fiber self compacting concrete with 0.15% volume fraction, and 19mm polypropylene fiber self compacting concrete with 0.15% volume fraction, as well as their concrete mix proportions. Based on the experimental mechanical properties of concrete, the bending performance of polypropylene fiber self compacting concrete beams was analyzed using finite element numerical simulation. It is believed that 12mm and 19mm polypropylene fibers with a fiber volume fraction of 0.15% can effectively increase the cracking load of reinforced beams by 15% to 20% and improve the distribution of cracks in concrete. However, the increase in yield load and ultimate load of beams is only about 2-4%.