Mechanical behavior of cement composites reinforced by aligned Enset fibers

Abstract

Driven by the search towards new materials with reduced ecological impact, several investigations on plant-based natural fibers for composite reinforcement have been undertaken by researchers in the past decades. However, Ensete Ventricosum (Ev) fiber as reinforcement in a cementitious matrix has not yet been studied. This research aims to assess the mechanical performance of aligned Ev fiber reinforced cementitious composites and particularly the influence of the fiber volume fraction on the flexural performance of the composite. Four different fiber content ratios (from 3 % up to 6 %) were compared to plain mortar specimens. Not only the flexural load–displacement but also the cracking behavior was studied in depth utilizing the optical Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique. The developed material presented multiple cracking behavior under bending. The post-cracking stiffness, toughness and flexural strength of Ev fiber reinforced specimens were increased with higher fiber content: 3 %, 4 % and 5 % fiber content resulted in a strength increase of 260 %, 274 % and 396 %, respectively, compared to that of the reference mortar specimen. These results are promising for the development of a Ev fiber-based green composite.