Abstract This article proposes a formulation for calculating the tension stiffening and crack widths for fiber‐reinforced concrete (FRC) members. The comprehensive Simplified Modified Tension Chord Model (SMTCM) has been extended to fiber reinforced concrete as an alternative method for calculating crack widths to Annex L of the new revision of Eurocode 2. The model has been compared to a published experimental database, consisting specifically of reinforced concrete (RC) and FRC ties. Recommendations about the various required mechanical parameters for FRC are presented. Results from the proposed method are compared with the methodology included in Annex L in terms of the modeling uncertainty, assessed by comparing the predicted crack widths and crack spacings against the experimental data. Additionally, the model allows for the characterization of tension stiffening in concrete tie elements and the quantification of the bond factor. This factor is defined as the ratio between the force sustained by the cracked concrete and the force carried by the concrete at first cracking. The simplicity of the model's formulation makes it applicable for practical engineering use and readily extendable to other structural elements with more complex geometries and loads, thereby facilitating its integration into computational routines with significant future applications.
Rojas et al. (Sun,) studied this question.