THE EFFECT OF THE INTERFACE IN CONTROLLING THE FRACTURE WIDTH OF HYBRID SHCC CONCRETE BEAMS

Abstract

Crack width may be reduced by using a combination of normal 
concrete and a Strain Hardening Cementitious Composite 
(SHCC). In order to verify the theory and investigate the 
impact of interface treatment on crack width control, an 
experimental and numerical investigation is presented in this 
work. Surfaces that are smooth, profiled, partly debonded, or 
entirely debonded are all options for a given interface. Four
point bending tests are performed on the beams. The 
maximum crack width of 0.3 mm at the surface is used as a 
criteria for the analysis of the fracture development under the 
loading. The lattice model is used to simulate the hybrid and 
control beams. Stronger interfaces permit composite action in 
hybrid beams and give better fracture width control than 
artificially weakened interfaces, as demonstrated both 
experimentally and numerically.