Mesoscale numerical modeling and characterization of the effect of reinforcement textile on the elevated temperature and tensile behaviour of carbon textile-reinforced concrete composite

Abstract This paper presents both experimental and mesoscale modeling results of the direct tensile behaviour of two carbon TRC composites at elevated temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 600 °C. Two reinforcement carbon textiles were manufactured industrially in the factory with different geometries and treatment products to improve the textile/matrix bond. For the numerical approach, the input data of the numerical models were chosen from the experimental results of TRC component materials (carbon textiles, cementitious matrix). The carbon TRCs gave the strain-hardening behaviour with different phases depending on elevated temperature levels. Furthermore, the numerical model highlighted the failure mode with the transversal cracks on the specimen surface, using the crack damage model for the concrete matrix. The effect of elevated temperature on the TRC behaviour and performance of the TRC was determined and analyzed by comparing it with the results obtained at room temperature. By comparing the experimental results on both carbon TRCs, the effect of the reinforcement textile on the thermomechanical behaviour of TRC composites could also be highlighted and discussed. The numerical results of the carbon TRCs at elevated temperature levels were also compared with experimental results. The good agreement obtained between the experimental and numerical results demonstrated the rationality of this numerical model.