Modelling of flexural behaviour

The bending capacity is usually expressed in terms of the flexural strength, ah calculated from the ultimate bending moment of the tested beam. Mu, assuming a linear elastic stress distribution. For a beam with a rectangular cross section of width 6 and height h, 

Since FRC composites, are, in practice, frequently subjected to flexural loading and are usually tested in bending, it is important to understand the processes 

The modelling of flexural behaviour and strength can be carried out by two different modes (i) modelling the tensile curve and determining the flexural behaviour by considering a continuous beam in flexure, with different characteristic functions for the tensile and compressive behaviour and (ii) modelling 

1 Flexural behaviour modelled by stress-strain relations in tension 

The stress-strain curve in tension, modelled for FRC, has been used to develop an analytical description of the flexural behaviour ( 7b and load vs. deflection curves) of FRC. In such treatments the improvement in flexural behaviour is the result of two effects enhancement in post-cracking strength and in ductility. 

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