Description
The application of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) in the construction sector is a developing area of study and application. Shape memory alloy (SMA) is one promising material for use as fibers in FRC due to its ability to revert to its original shape after deformation, a phenomenon known as the shape memory effect (SME). FRC may be pre-stressed and self-repaired by combining SMA with the SME characteristic. Nevertheless, modeling SMA-FRC using conventional finite element methods (FEM) is demanding. This paper presents an innovative technique for modeling SMA-FRC utilizing multiscale modeling. The article describes the methods for generating micromechanics, homogenization, boundary conditions, and coupling micro- and macro-models. The results demonstrate that employing multiscale modeling may significantly lower computing costs while presenting extra insights about the SMA-behavior FRCs on the microscale. The results also suggest that employing SMA fibers can generate sufficient pre-stressing forces in the concrete, improving the stiffness and durability of the concrete. Nevertheless, several parameters like fiber geometry, pull-out strength, SMA phase transformations, and crack progression are simplified in the article. The authors intend to resolve these limitations in further research and compare the findings to experimental data. The usage of SMA-FRC has significant potential for enhancing the durability and strength of concrete buildings, and the unique multiscale modeling technique given in this study can assist in the advancement of research in this sector.
