Experimental evaluation on engineering properties and microstructure of the high-performance fiber-reinforced mortar with low polypropylene fiber content

Abstract

Recently, high-performance fiber-reinforced mortar/concrete (HPFRM) has been researched and developed in many fields such as repair, maintenance, and new construction of infrastructure works due to its high strain capacity and tight crack width characteristics. Optimizing the design of mixture proportions and structures using HPFRM is still a complex mechanical and physical process, depending on the design principles, specific site conditions, and their local materials. This study aims to develop an HPFRM with low polypropylene fiber content by using locally available ingredients in Southern Vietnam to address the deficiencies commonly observed in traditional cement grout mortars. Three mixture proportions were prepared with different water-to-binder (w/b) ratios of 0.2, 0.25, and 0.3. Then, the performance of HPFRM was evaluated in both fresh and hardened stages. Additionally, the microstructural characteristics of each mix design were also assessed through scanning electron microscope observation. The experimental results showed that the optimum w/b of 0.25 and a fixed dosage of 0.6% polypropylene fiber produced positive impacts on the rheological, mechanical properties, and also ductility of the high-performance mortar. It was concluded that HPFRMs are promising for cost-effective and sustainable cement mortars.