The present paper introduces a probabilistic approach to simulating the crack bridging effects of chopped glassstrands in cement-based matrices and compares it to a discrete rigid body spring network model with semi-discreterepresentation of the chopped strands. The glass strands exhibit random features at various scales, which are takeninto account by both models. Fiber strength and interface stress are considered as random variables at the scaleof a single fiber bundle while the orientation and position of individual bundles with respect to a crack planeare considered as random variables at the crack bridge scale. At the scale of the whole composite domain, thedistribution of fibers and the resulting number of crack-bridging fibers is considered. All the above random effectscontribute to the variability of the crack bridge performance and result in size-dependent behavior of a multiplycracked composite.
展开▼
