Thermal effects on the mechanical properties of cement mortars reinforced with aramid, glass, basalt and polypropylene fibers

Abstract

In this study, thermal effects on the mechanical properties of cement mortars with some types of fibers is investigated. The replaced fibers were made of polypropylene (PP), aramid, glass and basalt. In other words, the main goal of this paper is to study the effects of different fibers on the mechanical properties of cement mortars after subjecting to normal and sub-elevated temperatures. The experimental tests used for investigating these effects were compressive, splitting tensile, and four-point bending tests at 20, 100 and 300°C, respectively. Moreover, the microstructures of the specimens in different temperatures were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Based on the experimental results, the negative effects of sub-elevated temperatures on four-point bending tests were much more than the others. Moreover, using the fibers with higher melting points could not improve the qualities of the samples in sub-elevated temperatures.