Multiaxis three-dimensional (3D) glass fiber preform/cementitious matrix concrete composites: Experimental characterizations by panel test

Abstract

Multiaxis three-dimensional (3D) alkali-resistant continuous glass fiber/cementitious matrix concrete composites were developed using the “winding and molding” method. The panel properties of the concretes were experimentally investigated and compared with the neat concrete. The experiment revealed that the load-bearing capability, strength and energy absorption properties of the multiaxis three-dimensional concretes were significantly influenced by the placement and orientation of the reinforcement fiber. The newly developed concrete composite was found to have the strain hardening behavior which attributed to an improved energy absorption performance of the concrete. It was also identified that four directional glass structure (ARG-4D) demonstrated somewhat better energy absorption performance compared to that of the biaxial (ARG-2D) and uniaxial (ARG-1D) structures because of the fiber orientation in the multiaxial direction in the concrete. Further investigation of the fractured four directional glass fiber/cementitious matrix concrete (ARG-4D) showed that the fiber-matrix interfacial debonding in each yarn set, local matrix breakages, yarn bridging due to tensile strengthening, tensile pull-out of outer filament and stick-slip frictions between the filament TOWs and the cementitious matrix were the principal fracture mechanisms. The micro-cracks occurred in multiaxis concretes were restricted by the multiaxis 3D fiber architecture. The multiaxis three-dimensional alkali-resistant continuous glass fiber/cementitious concrete can be considered as the damage tolerant structures with regard to neat concrete.