Flexural fatigue analysis of fibre reinforced polymer concrete composites under non-reversed loading

Abstract

Results of an investigation on the flexural fatigue performance of poly-propylene fibre reinforced polymer concrete composites (PFRPCC) are presented. Flexural fatigue lives of PFRPCC beams at different stress levels were obtained using 100 kN MTS servo-controlled actuator. The specimens incorporated three weight fractions, i.e., 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% of polypropylene fibres. It has been established using graphical goodness of fit procedure that the fatigue life distributions of PFRPCC at various stress levels approximately follow the two parameter Weibull distribution with correlation coefficient exceeding 0.9. The results of graphical goodness of fit procedure have been reinforced with the help of Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness of fit test and Anderson-Darling test of goodness of fit. The fatigue strength prediction models, particularly representing S-N relationships, have been examined and the material coefficients have been obtained for PFRPCC containing different weight fractions of fibres. Furthermore, using Weibull distribution, probability of failure has been incorporated into the fatigue life data of PFRPCC to develop S-N-Pf relationships, both graphically and analytically. The two million cycle endurance limits for PFRPCC containing different amounts of fibres have also been obtained.