Experimental investigation of the effect of carbon nanotubes and carbon fibres on the behaviour of plain cement composite beams

Abstract

In this article, the behaviour of reinforced cement composite beams with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon fibres (CFs) is investigated. The percentage of CFs was fixed at 0.25 wt% of cement, while the percentage of MWCNTs was varied from 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 wt% of cement. Dispersion of both MWCNTs and CFs was carried out using ultrasonic energy. Composite beams were tested under flexure in order to evaluate their mechanical properties such as flexural strength, toughness and ductility. These results were then compared with the results of plain cement control beams. The present work also investigates the optimum percentage of fibres that gives the best results both in terms of enhanced properties and economy.