Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
Traditional finite element modelling of Steel Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) relies on homogenised macroscopic models that overlook localised effects such as fibre orientation. Although three-dimensional (3D) mesoscopic frameworks for SFRC have been developed, direct comparisons with homogenised macroscopic models under the EN 14651 flexural test configuration remain limited, particularly for variations in fibre orientations. Consequently, a comparative evaluation is essential to assess the mesoscopic model under EN 14651 conditions. To address this, this work introduces a 3D tensor-controlled mesoscopic modelling approach for SFRC that explicitly simulates individual fibres with random and preferential alignment, offering a more realistic representation of fibre bridging and failure mechanisms. A comprehensive simulation program, comprising nine modelling scenarios, was developed to systematically evaluate the effects of modelling scale (macroscopic vs. mesoscopic), fibre dosage (0.5% and 0.75%), and fibre orientation (three intensities: random, moderate, and strong alignment) on the fracture response of SFRC beams in accordance with EN 14651. This study showed that the mesoscopic model reproduced the post-cracking response more accurately than the macroscopic model, reducing the error in residual flexural strength at the serviceability limit state from 33.6% to 6.4%. Across the investigated orientation levels, increasing longitudinal fibre alignment generally enhanced the peak load and residual flexural strengths, with the strongly aligned configuration providing the greatest overall improvement in load-carrying capacity. These findings highlight the critical role of fibre orientation in SFRC design and promote the mesoscopic framework as a robust tool for detailed fracture analysis.
Keywords
fibre alignment, fibre orientation tensor, finite element analysis, flexural performance, macroscopic modelling, mesoscopic modelling, Steel Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (SFRC)
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
9-1-2026
Article Number
112680
E-ISSN
23520124
Volume
91
Publication Title
Structures
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Engineering
RAS ID
100222
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Mansour, A., Paraskeva, T., & Mashaan, N. S. (2026). A novel mesoscopic modelling approach for steel fibre-reinforced concrete: Investigating the effects of fibre alignment on flexural performance. Structures, 91, Article 112680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2026.112680