Predicting the pullout response of inclined straight steel fibers

Fiber pullout tests have been used for decades to characterize and optimize bond strength on fiber reinforced concretes. However most of the investigations focus on the behavior of fibers aligned with load direction whose pullout mechanisms are not representative of the ones existing in real applications, where random orientation of fibers is likely to occur. In this paper a new predictive model for the pullout response of steel fibers embedded in cement matrices with any inclination respect to loading direction is provided. Comparisons with experimental results highlight the capacity of the model on describing appropriately the entire load–crack width behavior. The procedure differentiates itself from previous works by introducing clear and comprehensive concepts within a straightforward approach.