Title:
Shrinkage and Fatigue Crack Analysis on Fiber Reinforced Composite Concrete (FRCC) Pavement: An ANSYS Workbench Study

Authors:
Mr. Vishnu Choramale, USA

Abstract:

In pavement, concrete slab structures along with foundations, retaining walls, marine, precast components, urban pavements are subjected to both static load and, particularly, cyclic loading for pavement. Fatigue is a significant concern for these pavements, especially given recent technological advancements. This study conducts a fatigue analysis of a pavement slab using ANSYS Workbench. The study investigates shrinkage and fatigue cracks in Fiber Reinforced Composite Concrete (FRCC) pavements, with loading based on FRCC's load-carrying capacity. Utilizing ANSYS Workbench, a series of finite element analyses were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of FRCC under varying loading conditions and environmental factors. The research examines several fibre types—including cold-drawn wire, cut sheet, melt-extracted, mill-cut, and modified cold-drawn fibres—integrated with recycled aggregates and crushed sand. The numerical methodology incorporates material properties such as moisture transport, free shrinkage, and mechanical characteristics derived from experimental data. These micro-cracks penetrate approximately 25% of the slab thickness, leading to reductions in ultimate load bearing and fatigue capacity by up to 50%. While shrinkage may not initially produce visible cracks, it exacerbates crack opening under traffic loads—by as much as 500% for cracks of 0.5 mm width. To ensure long-term pavement performance, the allowable stress ratio should be halved to mitigate shrinkage distress. The methodology developed here can be applied to similar materials and geometries, offering broader insights into the importance of addressing shrinkage distress in concrete design.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijaemr.2024.9604