To investigate the mechanical properties of steel fiber-reinforced concrete under freeze-thaw cycles and the accuracy of its finite element simulation, a constitutive model and its functional expressions for steel fiber-reinforced concrete under tension and compression before and after freeze-thaw cycles were developed. This was based on the stress-strain curve characteristics obtained from experiments, combined with the Hognestad model, the Guo Zhenhai model, and the tensile-compressive model. Finite element simulations were conducted using ABAQUS to model the evolution of the mechanical properties of the lining structure during freeze-thaw processes, revealing the damage characteristics and failure modes of the lining mechanical properties induced by freeze-thaw cycles. The results indicated that after experiencing freeze-thaw cycles, the peak strength of the specimens decreased from 43.3 GPa to 35.3 GPa. Validation through scaled model tests confirmed that the established constitutive model and the corresponding finite element method accurately reflect the cumulative process of freeze-thaw damage, with the numerical simulation results showing good agreement with the experimental data. This study verifies the feasibility of accurately simulating the structural performance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete by developing a freeze-thaw constitutive model, thereby providing a theoretical basis and analytical method for the design and durability assessment of tunnel linings in cold regions.
Wu et al. (Sat,) studied this question.