Mechanical behaviour of polymer concrete systems

The mechanical behaviour of epoxy and polyester polymer concrete systems was studied under different loading conditions at various temperatures, resin content, and glass fibre content. While polymer content varied between 10 and 20% of the total weight of polymer concrete, the fibre content was limited to 4% by weight. The temperature was varied between 22 and 110°C, depending on the glass transition temperature of the resin. Compared to vibration, the compaction method of preparation reduces the void content and enhances the strength and modulus of polymer concrete. The compressive and flexural strength and stiffness of the polymer concrete systems increase up to a certain limit of polymer content at which they exhibit maximum strength and stiffness. They subsequently decrease or remain almost constant with further increase in polymer content. The strength and stiffness of polymer concrete are very much dependent on the temperature. The stiffness model, based on inclusion theory, yields satisfactory results for the three-phase polymer concrete. Using this model, the compression and flexural modulus of polymer concrete can be predicted from the properties of the constituents and their composition. Incremental strength and stiffness models developed in this study are effective in predicting the increase in strength and stiffness of glass-fibre-reinforced polymer concrete.