High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cement Composites: An Alternative for Seismic Design of Structures

Tensile strain-hardening, high-performance fiber-reinforced cement composites (HPFRCCs) are being more commonly used in earthquake-resistant structures. This article discusses the applications for HPFRCCs, including for members with shear-dominated response such as beam-column connections, low-rise walls, and coupling beams, as well as flexural members subjected to large displacement reversals. The author determines that HPFRCC materials are effective in increasing shear strength, displacement capacity, and damage tolerance in members subjected to large inelastic deformations. The use of HPFRCCs in beam-column connections allowed total elimination of joint transverse reinforcement while leading to outstanding damage tolerance. Similarly, HPFRCC low-rise walls exhibited drift capacities larger than 2.0% with only minor damage at drifts ranging between 1.0 to 1.5%. The author concluded that one of the most encouraging results was observed in HPFRCC flexural members unreinforced in shear, which sustained reversed cyclic shear stresses as high as 2.7 MPa with up to 6.0% plastic hinge rotation. The use of HPFRCC materials leads to an increase in displacement capacity and outstanding damage tolerance, which make these composites attractive for reducing the need for costly post-earthquake repairs.