Non-Destructive and Destructive Monitoring Methods of Fibre Concrete Homogeneity

Abstract

Design, preparation and testing of fibre-cement composites are a task of wide range of research workplaces and universities in our country and abroad. However, a question on homogeneity of all cement matrix components and mainly optimal dispersion of fibre reinforcement in a mixture has not been yet solved sufficiently. Within testing of properties of such designed composites there is usually a realized fact, that variability of these properties is distinctive mainly for the reason of uneven dispersion of commonly used fibres in a whole matrix volume. Elimination of this phenomenon could be achieved by means of a design of the optimal homogenization process of dry mixture components with fibre reinforcement. The aim of research works was to find suitable homogenization techniques, design of mixing process and optimal dosing of individual components. By means of these actions it is possible to achieve the best dispersion of selected fibre types, both metal and non-metal, in fine-grained cementitious matrixes, which is subsequently verified in hardened composites at first by non-destructive and then by destructive methods. Four different fibre-cement mixtures were chosen as representatives for commonly used reinforcement in fibre-cement composites and test specimens with a thickness of 40 mm were prepared using processes suitable for the specific fibre reinforcement. At the first stage non-destructive testing by means of ultrasound waves was carried out at first on a compact test slab with dimensions 500 x 500 x 40 mm and subsequently on individual test specimens with dimensions 250 x 40 x 40 mm, cut from the test slab according to a designed pattern. At the second stage destructive testing of test specimens was performed, mainly evaluation of flexural strength with 4-point bending and subsequently preparation of thin sections from the failure area for observation by means of polarizing microscopy. A purpose of all these research works is finding of correlation between testing by means of destructive and non-destructive methods.