Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites Research Articles

Effect of Hybridization of Carbon Fibers on Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Fiber–Cement Composites: A Response Surface Methodology Study

Fiber-reinforced cement composites, particularly those incorporating natural fibers like cellulose, have gained attention for their potential towards more sustainable construction. However, natural fibers present inherent deficiencies in mechanical properties and can benefit from hybridization with carbon fibers. This study focuses on the incorporation of cellulose and carbon fibers, in varying contents, into fibrocement composites, employing a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize the material characteristics. The methodology involves testing, encompassing flexural tensile, compression, and fracture toughness tests. The results indicate an increasing trend in flexural strength for higher carbon fiber content, peaking near 5%. A plateau in flexural strength is observed between 1.2% and 3.6% carbon fiber content, suggesting a range where mechanical properties stabilize. Compressive strength shows a plateau between 1.2 and 3.6% and reaches its highest value (≈33 MPa) at a carbon fiber content greater than 4.8%, and fracture toughness above 320 MPa·m1/2 is achieved with carbon fiber content above 3.6%. This study offers insights into optimizing the synergistic effects of cellulose and carbon fibers in fibrocement composites.

An Analytical Study of the Out-of-plane Seismic Performance of Masonry Walls Reinforced with High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Frequent earthquake occurrences in various regions of Korea have highlighted the urgent need that exists for the seismic retrofitting of unreinforced masonry buildings, which are particularly vulnerable to lateral forces. In this study, the out-of-plane seismic performance of masonry walls reinforced with high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) was evaluated using finite element analysis. ABAQUS was used to establish the analysis model, and the reliability of the model was validated by comparing the model results with shaking table test results. A parametric study of the reinforced masonry walls was thereafter conducted using the parameters of the reinforced sides of the walls (unilateral and bilateral) and thicknesses (10 and 20 mm). The analysis of the acceleration and displacement of the masonry walls revealed the beneficial effects of HPFRCCs on the out-of-plane seismic performance of the walls. The seismic performance of the walls was significantly enhanced when the HPFRCCs were applied to both sides of the walls.

Experimental investigation and evaluation of shear performance of hollow slab beams strengthened by cavity grouting method

After 20 years of service, multiple web shear cracks were observed in 20 m-span prestressed concrete hollow slab beams. Shear enhancement is required to improve structural safety. To evaluate the strengthening effect of the new material on the hollow slab beam structure, fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) were used to fill the cavities at the beam ends, and a comprehensive field load test was carried out on the shear-resistant performance of the actual bridge. The web principal stresses changed before and after strengthening under various working conditions, which were analyzed and compared with the performance of the traditional channel steel technique. The findings show that the web principal stresses are significantly reduced by more than 50 % after filling with FRCC, notably superior to the channel steel technique. In addition, both methods can reduce mid-span deflections by 10–20 %. The channel steel technique specifically enhances transverse connection capabilities. Furthermore, strain responses in the beam end sections were reduced by about 30–45 %. Finally, finite element simulations of single beam strengthening were also conducted to complement the experimental analysis. The simulation results show that the shear span ratio (λ), FRCC length and strand prestress loss remarkably impact the strengthening effect. The ultimate load capacity of the strengthened specimens decreases with the increase of λ and prestress loss and increases with the increase of FRCC length. In conclusion, the utilization of FRCC presents a superior alternative for shear enhancement in prestressed concrete hollow slab beams, offering substantial reductions in web principal stresses and enhanced structural performance compared to the traditional strengthening method.

Void geometry analysis and multifaceted characterisation of cementitious mortar reinforced with short carbon and glass fibres – A comparative study

This paper presents comprehensive experimental and numerical studies on void analysis, durability performance, electrical properties, and microstructural behaviour of fibre-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) with varying short carbon and glass fibre volume fractions. Durability and electrical properties are evaluated based on the hydrochloric acid effect, water absorption, drying shrinkage and electrical resistivity changes over time. The incorporation of CF and GF remarkably limits drying shrinkage, primarily attributed to the bridging and bonding effects of fibres within the matrix. The addition of 1.0 % carbon fibre significantly decreases the electrical resistivity and improves acid resistance performance. Furthermore, for the first time, the influence of fibre type and quantity on the formation of elongated and eccentric voids is investigated by using X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT). The results demonstrate that higher porosity leads to lower strength and durability performance, while a greater occurrence of elongated voids contributes to increased length change in shrinkage.

Projecting the resiliency of nano-modified cementitious composites with hybrid BFP/PVA fibers in shear key joints

Effective bond strength at the interface between conventional concrete (CC) and high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) is vital for applications like shear key for bridge joints. This study investigated the suitability of HPFRCC incorporating various constituents (cement, slag, as well as nano-silica), with only basalt fiber pellets (macro-BFP) or hybrid fiber systems including macro-BFP and micro-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers. BFP is a new emerging class of basalt fiber strands protected by a polymer coat. Experimental results (slant shear, pure shear, rebar pull-out, etc.) were used to develop modeling [homogenization/finite element modeling (FEM)] components to evaluate the effect of HPFRCC mixture design parameters on the mode of failure and bonding capacity with CC and steel rebar. After verification, these model components were integrated in a full-scale shear key joint model to project the field performance of the developed HPFRCC. The results revealed that nano-silica had a significant effect at improving the HPFRCC bonding strength capacity with CC and steel reinforcement. Whilst increasing BFP dosage (4.5%) in the nano-modified composites resulted in reduction of the interfacial bonding with CC, it significantly improved the rebar interfacial bonding and ultimate shear key capacity of the joint. Comparatively, the inclusion of 1% micro-PVA fibers in the nano-modified composites comprising macro-BFP resulted in the highest increase in shear resistance force, interfacial bonding with precast CC and shear reinforcement dowels, and ductility which suggests their promising potential to be employed in shear key jointing applications.

Compressive performance and analytical modeling of early strength seawater sea sand engineered cementitious composites

Early strength seawater and sea sand engineered cementitious composites (ESSECC) are novel fiber-reinforced cementitious composites that exhibit strain-hardening behavior and a high early strength. The compressive properties of ESSECC with different polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber content, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) content, and water–binder ratios were investigated at different curing ages in this study. Experimental evaluations were conducted to assess compressive strength, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, peak strain, energy dissipation capacity, toughness index, and stress-strain curves. The experimental results showed that early strength of ESSECC reached 58.0%, 81.6%, and 86.7% of its 28-day compressive strength after 2 hours, 3 days, and 7 days of curing, respectively. An increase in the PVA fiber volume fraction from 0 to 2% resulted in a 32.8% increase in average peak strain. Incorporating 0.15% CNTs into ESSECC led to an average enhancement of compressive strength by 7.2%. Based on these experimental results, an analytical model considering the effects of curing age and the addition of PVA fibers and CNTs was developed to describe the compressive stress–strain behavior of ESSECC. This model showed strong consistency with the experimental results.

Cyclic behavior of existing RC bridge piers strengthened by exterior ECC and BFRP/ECC composite jacketing at pier base

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) are a class of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. This study proposes using ECC and BFRP grid-reinforced ECC (BFRP/ECC) as external jackets at the base of existing RC bridge piers to enhance seismic performance. Seven 1/5-scale RC bridge piers were tested under reversed cyclic loading, including one unmodified pier as reference and six reinforced piers with varying jacket thickness, height, interface, and BFRP grid mesh size. The test results demonstrate that both ECC and BFRP/ECC composite jacketing effectively enhance ductility. The hysteretic response of the reinforced piers with different interfacial properties, however, varied significantly. The piers with interfacial shear keys exhibited enhanced flexural strength, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity but sustained severe damage as jacketing thickness and height increased. Conversely, the piers with smooth interfaces showed insignificant improvements in flexural strength but significant enhancement in ductility with marginal damage. This behavior can be attributed to the fact that the exterior jacketing in specimens with interfacial shear keys was under bi-axial tension-compression stress state due to flexural compression and lateral expansion of the plastic hinge, while the jacket in specimens with smooth interfaces acted solely as lateral confinement.

Effect of conductive surface-coated polyethylene fiber on the electrical and mechanical properties of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites

This study investigated the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) with conductive coated ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene (PE) fibers. The silver nanoparticles with spherical shape were coated most evenly. Despite some parts of the fiber surface being less coated with carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphite nanofiber (GNF) compared to the silver nanoparticles, they effectively increased electrical conductivity of the plain PE fiber. Both the coating degree and conductivity of the coating material affect the conductivity of PE fiber. The compressive strength of HPFRCC was not affected by conductive coating. The electrical conductivity of HPFRCC improved by 18.7%–45.1% than the control specimen, and the highest electrical conductivity was achieved when coated with silver nanoparticles. Incorporating conductive coating fibers had a negative effect on tensile strengths (18.9–23.5% decreases) but a positive effect on the ductility. The GNF-coated PE fibers led to the strain capacity and energy absorption capacity improved by 69.4 and 44.8%, respectively. Therefore, given the increase in deformation performance outweighs the decrease in tensile strength, engineered, conductive coating fibers can be used as novel reinforcement in HPFRCC to attain additional functionalities related to electrical capabilities.

Autogenous healing of the interface between hollow natural fiber (HNF) and reactive magnesia cement (RMC) matrix

The fiber-matrix interface healing determines the restoration of tensile strength of fiber reinforced cementitious composites (FRCCs). This work first-timely investigates the autogenous healing of debonded interface between hollow natural fiber (HNF) and reactive magnesia cement (RMC) matrix and subsequent tensile strength recovery. HNF-RMC single-fiber specimens are preloaded to induce interfacial debonding, and then conditioned under water-air cycles for healing. The healing-induced recovery of the interfacial properties in the HNF-RMC group are significantly higher than the control PVA-RMC and PVA-PC groups. Tensile test of notched FRCCs demonstrated that the tensile strength of HNF-RMC can be more than doubled after cracking-healing, and its healing efficiency is around 50% higher than that of PVA-PC and PVA-RMC. Based on microstructural characterization in situ and finite element modeling, the increased healing degree is attributed to two new mechanisms related to the special porous microstructure of HNF. First, the lumens and micropores within cell of HNF can be the pathway for CO2 and water penetration, which promotes the formation of healing products (e.g., hydrated magnesium carbonates) within fiber-matrix interface and hence the recovery of chemical and frictional bonds. Second, the healing products formed within lumens caused lateral fiber expansion, and thus prominently enhanced the frictional bond.

Research on freeze-thaw damage and life prediction model of polyethylene fiber-reinforced cementitious composites based on reliability analysis

Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC), is a fiber-reinforced cementitious composite with excellent ductility, toughness, impact resistance and multi-crack development characteristics. In addition to the excellent mechanical properties, the durability of ECC has also received equal attention. In order to investigate the frost resistance of polyethylene fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (PE-ECC), PE-ECC and normal concrete (NC) specimens were subjected to different numbers of freeze-thaw cycles, and the changes in compressive strength, mass loss rate and relative dynamic modulus of elasticity of the specimens before and after freezing and thawing were tested, so as to compare the freeze-resistant properties of PE-ECC and NC. A freeze-thaw damage model was established using the two-parameter Weibull distribution function, and the freeze-thaw reliability of NC and PE-ECC was analyzed based on the Wiener process analysis, based on which a life prediction model was established to predict the life of NC and PE-ECC under freeze-thaw environment. The results show that after 200 freeze-thaw cycles, the compressive strength loss rate, mass loss rate and the relative dynamic elastic modulus loss rate of NC and PE-ECC are 32.97%, 2.35%, 50.28% and 17.28%, 0.71%, 6.57%, respectively, and the damage indexes of PE-ECC are lower than that of NC, and the NC after 200 freeze-thaw cycles has reached the standard of freeze-thaw damage, while PE-ECC is still at a lower level of freeze-thaw damage; it shows that the frost resistance of PE-ECC is better than that of NC, and the addition of PE fibers can effectively improve the frost resistance of concrete; the results of the damage model and the reliability analysis coincide well with the experimental results, and the results of life prediction are given in some cold regions, which can provide a basis for the application of PE-ECC in practice.

Strain Softening of High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites in Uniaxial Compression

This study investigates the strain softening behavior of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) under uniaxial compression. HPFRCC mixtures with different compressive strengths ranged from 120 to 170 MPa were prepared. The measurement method of feedback control on loading rate based transverse displacement was applied. Stress–strain and stress−inelastic displacement curves were plotted and analyzed with the results in the literature. It was found that the post-peak energy absorption of HPFRCC considering inelastic deformation was about 3–7 times higher than conventional concrete. Based on the experimental results in the present work, fitting models on post-peak stress–strain/−displacement curves were considering for different aspect ratios proposed.

Assessment of Different Methods for Enhancing Progressive Collapse Resistance of Irregular Reinforced Concrete Buildings Using Pushdown Analysis

AbstractEnsuring structures meet rigorous structural requirements is paramount in mitigating progressive collapse risk. In this comprehensive investigation, we scrutinize the impact of four distinct mitigation techniques on the propensity for progressive collapse in a six-story building featuring irregular structural attributes. The study adheres to the concrete building construction code ACI 318-14 and evaluates methods that include: (a) reinforcing the reinforced concrete (RC) slab with high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs), (b) enhancing the RC slab with carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), (c) incorporating steel plate shear wall (SPSW) within specific columns, and (d) introducing an innovative approach named as the steel belt strip (SBS). In the context of 10 independent column loss scenarios conducted on the first floor, the nonlinear dynamic analysis reveals that HPFRCC effectively reduces vertical displacement under the removed column by up to 99.89% in certain scenarios. Meanwhile, the use of CFRP layers leads to reductions of up to 95% in vertical displacement, but with variations in effectiveness across scenarios. Notably, the SBS technique demonstrates remarkable potential by reducing vertical displacement by 97%, 89%, and 25.9% in different scenarios. This reduction, in conjunction with the mitigation of axial load on adjacent columns, makes the SBS a standout performer. Moreover, pushdown analysis indicates that, with the employment of these mitigation methods, the maximum loading factor can be increased up to 2.14 times in specific scenarios, significantly enhancing the structure’s resistance to progressive collapse. This pioneering research not only bolsters the resilience of irregular RC buildings but also holds profound implications for industry standards, risk assessment, and construction technology innovation.

Impact behaviour of 3D printed fiber reinforced cementitious composite beams

Recent interest has grown in using 3D printing for military and civil defense engineering, particularly for infrastructure resilience against impacts. This study delves into the impact resistance of 3D printed fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (FRCC) beams. By analyzing varying fiber content, impact directions, and 3D printing nozzle sizes, the research found that the total energy dissipation of 3D printed FRCC beams was more than 40% higher and the 3D printed beams exhibited superior impact resistance compared to traditional beams, largely due to the fibers' role. The impact energy dissipation varied with different impact directions for the specimens, and the Z direction was identified as the most resistant, demonstrating anisotropic behavior in impact resistance. Smaller nozzle sizes in printing showed higher total energy dissipation, indicating increased impact resistance. X-ray analysis further revealed that the 3D printing process creates denser beams with better fiber–matrix adhesion and less porosity, improving overall impact resistance.

Utilization of Novel Basalt Fiber Pellets from Micro- to Macro-Scale, and from Basic to Applied Fields: A Review on Recent Contributions

Fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) are one of the leading engineering materials in the 21st century, as they offer proficiency in enhancing strength, ductility, and durability in structural engineering applications. Because the recently developed basalt fiber pellets (BFP) offer combined strands of fibers encased in a polymer matrix, they are being prevalently studied to explore new possibilities when used in brittle materials such as mortar and concrete. Hence, this paper synthesizes the intensive research efforts and contributions to this novel class of fibers conducted by the authors. Specifically, it reviews the fresh, mechanical, and durability properties of FRCC incorporating single BFP or hybrid with polyvinyl alcohol fibers and modified with slag/fly ash and nano-materials and its suitability for different field applications. In addition, the nano- and meso-scale modeling of such matrices are described. BFP significantly contributes to improving post-cracking flexural behavior by toughening the cementitious matrix and minimizing strength losses when exposed to harsh environments. All results show promising progress in the development of high-performance FRCC comprising BFP, with potential success for structural and pavement applications.

Prediction models of compressive mechanical properties of steel fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (SFRCC)

Steel fiber reinforced cementitious composites (SFRCCs), including normal strength concrete (NSC), high strength concrete (HSC), and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), have attracted significant attention in research and commercial applications due to their excellent mechanical properties and durability. The compressive performance of concrete reflects the maximum stress that the material can withstand under applied loading, which directly affects the safety and bearing capacity of buildings and is a very important parameter in the design and construction of buildings. Many researchers have experimentally studied the mechanical properties of SFRCC under uniaxial compression and proposed models to predict the compressive properties, such as compressive strength, elastic modulus, and peak strain. However, the test results and quantitative assessment of the existing models in the literature indicate that the goodness of fit of existing models is not well enough. Even under their specific range given in the respective studies, the maximum values of correlation coefficient in regression analysis, R2, are 14.5 % for compressive strength, 36.0 % for elastic modulus, and 42.1 % for peak strain. In addition, the scope of application is not wide enough as soon as the influencing factors considered are not sufficient. This makes that the compressive properties of SFRCC cannot be accurately predicted. In order to overcome these limitations, compression tests on UHPC were conducted in this study, focusing on the most commonly used straight steel fibers (13 mm long and 0.2 mm diameter). Further, modified models for predicting compressive properties were proposed using test data from this study and existing publications, with the R2 of 46.7 % for compressive strength, 48.1 % for elastic modulus, and 48.4 % for peak strain. The new models showed higher accuracy and applicability in predicting SFRCC compressive properties.

Fiber Synergy of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Steel Fibers on the Bond Behavior of a Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composite.

Based on multi-scale characteristics inherent in the cracking process of cementitious composites, fibers with different geometric dimensions are simultaneously used to restrain the formation and development of cracks at different scales. Accordingly, hybrid fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HyFRCCs) exhibit excellent bond behavior and deformation capacity in terms of tension and compression, accompanied by higher damage tolerance. Using these benefits of the mechanical properties of HyFRCCs, the structural performance of HyFRCC structures under complex loading conditions can be improved. To objectively evaluate the contributions of all fibers to the mechanical properties of HyFRCCs, steel macro-fibers, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) micro-fibers were used to design several reinforced cementitious composites. Four of the specimens were mono-fibrous cementitious composites, three specimens were cementitious composites reinforced with hybrid fibers, and one was a non-fibrous cementitious composite. The synergy effect of the steel and PVA fibers was analyzed using various fiber combinations. The results indicated a significant enhancement of the bonding properties of HyFRCCs through the incorporation of PVA and steel fibers. Specifically, the peak bond strength, peak slip displacement, and residual bond strength exhibited increments ranging from 31.0% to 41.7%, 60.6% to 118.4%, and 34.6% to 391.3%, respectively, in comparison to the reference test block. Notably, the combined presence of the PVA and steel fibers consistently demonstrated a positive confounding effect on the residual bond strength. However, negative confounding effects were observed in terms of the peak bond strength and peak slip displacement, particularly with 1.0% steel fiber content and 0.5% PVA fiber content.

Cementitious Composites with Cellulose Nanomaterials and Basalt Fiber Pellets: Experimental and Statistical Modeling

The production of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) as a durable construction material using different types of fibers and nanomaterials critically relies on the synergic effects of the two materials as well as the cementitious composite mixes. In this study, novel HPFRCCs were developed, which comprised high content (50%) slag by mass of the base binder as well as nano-silica (NS) or nano-crystalline cellulose (NCC). In addition, nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC), and basalt fiber pellets (BFP), representing nano-/micro- and macro-fibers, respectively, were incorporated into the composites. The response surface method was used in this study’s statistical modeling part to evaluate the impact of key factors (NS, NCC, NFC, BFP) on the performance of 15 mixtures. The composites were assessed in terms of setting times, early- and late-age compressive strength, flexural performance, and resistance to freezing-thawing cycles, and the bulk trends were corroborated by fluid absorption, thermogravimetry, and microscopy tests. Incorporating NS/NCC in the slag-based binders catalyzed the reactivity of cement and slag with time, thus maintaining the setting times within an acceptable range (maximum 9 h), achieving high early- (above 33 MPa at 3 days) and later-age (above 70 MPa at 28 days) strength, and resistance to fluid absorption (less than 2.5%) and frost action (DF above 90%) of the composites. In addition, all nano-modified composites with multi-scale fibers showed notable improvement in terms of post-cracking flexural performance (Residual Strength Index above 40%), which qualify them for multiple infrastructure applications (i.e., shear key bridge joints) requiring a balance between high-strength properties, ductility, and durability.

Upcycling low-grade coal fly ash for the production of fly ash fibers and their applications in fiber-reinforced cement composites

Fly ash (FA) fibers were produced from low-grade coal FA, which exhibited high SO3 content, in combination with dolomite and basalt. To identify the optimal combination of these raw materials, glass samples were cast with varying ratios of these materials. Subsequently, an alkaline resistance test was conducted by immersing the ground glass samples in a 1 M Ca(OH)2 solution for a duration of 75 days. The results of the alkaline resistance test revealed that the formulation consisting of 70 wt% FA, 20 wt% dolomite, and 10 wt% basalt, exhibited the highest alkaline resistance with a weight loss of less than 2 wt%. Based on this formulation, FA fibers were then produced and utilized as a reinforcing phase in fiber-reinforced cement composite (FRCC) samples, ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 wt%. Mechanical testing showed that, after 28 days of air curing, the FRCC samples containing 0.8 wt% FA fibers exhibited the highest modulus of elasticity (MOE) at 16,890 ± 434 MPa, along with a modulus of rupture (MOR) of 13.86 ± 0.98 MPa and an impact strength of 1792 ± 134 J/m2. These results meet industry requirements, with a MOR and MOE exceeding 5 MPa and 7000 MPa, respectively, as well as an impact strength exceeding 1000 J/m2. Using the Archimedes method, the density of the FRCC samples containing 0.8 wt% FA fibers, is 1.71 ± 0.03 g/cm3, falling within the industry standard range of 1.5 to 2.2 g/cm3. Furthermore, according to the cost analysis, the production cost for FA fibers is $324.40 per ton, compared to $5000 and $1000 per ton for commercially available fibers. Consequently, utilizing FA fibers would result in significant savings for the raw material costs for FRCC production.

Failure mechanism of bonding between natural fiber and cement matrix at high temperature

The debonding behavior of natural fibers with cement matrix at elevated temperatures has been investigated by introducing a new test method for measuring the interfacial shear strength between the fibers and the cement matrix in the field of cementitious composites research. In addition, the effects of shrinkage, surface roughness, and tensile strength changes of natural fibers on the interface at high temperatures were analyzed by characterizing the failure process of chemical bonding with the matrix due to changes in the surface functional groups of natural fibers. The results show that the bonding properties between natural fibers and the cement matrix gradually decrease with increasing temperature, which is due to the contraction of the natural fibers in the radial direction at high temperatures leading to debonding with the cement matrix on the one hand, and the degradation of chemical bonding enhancement due to the reduction of polar groups on the surface of the fibers on the other hand, which contributes to the reduction of the interfacial strength between the fibers and the matrix. In the post-high-temperature phase, the temperature dependence of the inherent material properties of the natural fibers leads to a decrease in the mechanical properties as an additional factor affecting the interfacial behavior. This work evaluates the durability of natural fibers in cement matrices under high temperature conditions from the viewpoint of their inherent physical properties and surface chemical properties, providing unique research ideas and insights for related studies. Meanwhile, a new experimental method is introduced in the field of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites interface research, which can be widely attempted to be used in the study of selective combinations of different fiber-matrix interfaces, fiber size selection, and fiber modification to optimize the overall performance of the composites, which is of great significance to the research in this field.

Study On Axial Stretching Mechanical Property Of Plant Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites

This paper aims to explore the tensile properties of plant fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (PFRCCs). An axial tensile numerical-simulation and test study of PFRCC panels with four thicknesses was performed to analyze their tensile properties, providing a relevant basis for the engineering application of PFRCC panels. The results show that the peak load of uniaxial tensile failure of PFRCC panels with thicknesses of 8 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm and 18 mm is 424.0 N, 664.8 N, 825.0 N and 986.4 N, respectively. The bearing capacity of the panels gradually increases with the increase of the thickness. The peak tensile strain is about 0.044%, 2.93 times that of the cement matrix and the tensile strength is about 2.73 MPa. It is proved that adding plant fiber can increase the toughness of the cement matrix and increasing PFRCC panel thickness can improve its tensile bearing capacity without affecting its tensile-strength. KEYWORDS: Composite materials, Cement matrix, Plant fiber, Axial tension.