Experimental and numerical investigation of the mechanical properties of low cement thin boards reinforced by polypropylene and fiberglass mesh

Abstract

Recently, Fibre Cement Board (FCB) due to its lightness and speed in construction and execution has been highly considered. In this paper, numerical and experimental studies have been carried out to achieve eco- friendly FCB. A total of 20 mixtures were prepared. Limestone powder (LP) and silica fume (SF) were used, as a partial replacement for cement, and perlite (PLT) as a replacement for sand in the predetermined mixtures. Polypropylene fibre (PP) and fibre-glass mesh (FGM) were also used to improve the mechanical behavior. The flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, density, and water absorption of the specimens were evaluated. . Numerical analysis was also implemented to simulate the testing configuration for the full-scaled FCB. The results showed that the minimum density corresponded to the perlite specimen, reinforced by 0.75% polypropylene fibre. In contrast, the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity were increased by 48% and 51%, respectively, compared to the reference one. . The results declared that using LP, with and without SF, should be limited by 5%. The numerical results of the small FCB model were precisely validated by the experimental specimens, which can be considered an appropriate assessment method to evaluate the performance of full-scaled FCB.