Flexural performance of fiber-reinforced ultra lightweight cement composites with low fiber content

This paper presents an experimental study on flexural performance of ultra lightweight cement composites (ULCC) with 0.5 vol% fibers. Low density of the ULCC is achieved by using cenospheres from coal-fired power plants as micro aggregates. Effects of shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) and fiber types on compressive strength and flexural performance of the ULCC are investigated. ULCC with density of 1474 kg/m³, compressive strengths of 68.2 MPa, flexural strength of 8 MPa, and deflection hardening behavior can be produced. Such good performance could be attributed primarily to the SRA which reduced entrapped air in paste matrix and densified fiber–matrix interface. The improvement on the flexural performance of the ULCC depends on fibers used and bond between fibers and matrix. Improvement of the flexural performance of the steel fiber (coated with brass) reinforced ULCC due to the densification effect by SRA was more significant than that of the PE fiber reinforced ULCC.     

混杂纤维增强水泥基复合材料的力学性能

研究了化学改性聚丙烯（PP）纤维以及掺加聚丙烯纤维和芳纶纤维混杂比例和混杂效应对水泥基复合材料力学性能的影响,并构建了纤维增强水泥砂浆界面层的物理模型,描述了纤维对水泥砂浆的增强机制。实验表明,聚丙烯纤维经改性后使水泥砂浆前期抗折强度明显提高,聚丙烯纤维和芳纶纤维的混杂使水泥砂浆的后期抗折强度显著提高。改性聚丙烯纤维掺加体积分数为0.56%,芳纶纤维的体积分数为0.24%时,混杂纤维增强水泥砂浆试样较空白试样,3天、28天抗折强度分别提高了18.48%、31.17%,3天、28天抗压强度分别提高了7.16%、5.19%。     

Effects of polymer–cement ratio and accelerated curing on flexural behavior of hardener-free epoxy-modified mortar panels

This experimental study reports the applicability of hardener-free epoxy-modified mortar panels to permanent forms as precast concrete products. Hardener-free epoxy-modified mortars are mixed using a Bisphenoal A-type epoxy resin without any hardener with various polymer–cement ratios and steel fiber reinforcement, and subjected to different curings. Hardener-free epoxy-modified mortar panels are prepared with same polymer–cement ratios and steel fiber reinforcement on trial, and tested for flexural behavior under four-point (third-point) loading. The effects of polymer–cement ratios and curings on strength properties of hardener-free epoxy-modified mortars, and on the flexural strength, flexural stress-extreme tension fiber strain relation, flexural load–deflection relation of hardener-free epoxy-modified mortar panels were examined. The adhesion in tension (to placed concrete) of the hardener-free epoxy-modified mortar panels was also tested. As a result, the hardener-free epoxy-modified mortar panels develop a high flexural strength, large extensibility and good adhesion to the placed concrete. The epoxy-modified mortar panels are more ductile and have high load-bearing capacity than unmodified mortar panels and can be used as precast concrete permanent forms in practical applications.     

化学改性芳纶纤维增强水泥基复合材料的性能

采用化学改性法对芳纶纤维进行表面处理, 研究了改性前后芳纶纤维对水泥基复合材料强度及抗冲击性能的影响。结果表明: 芳纶纤维的掺入可以提高水泥砂浆的抗折强度和抗冲击性能, 经化学改性后的芳纶纤维增强效果更加明显。当掺杂纤维的体积分数为1.0%时, 化学改性前后芳纶纤维增强水泥砂浆试样与基准砂浆试样相比, 其28天抗折强度分别提高了15.18%和23.85%, 抗冲击韧性分别提高了276.74%和294.54%。采用SEM对芳纶纤维表面微观形貌及试样断口形貌进行了观察, 利用XPS对改性前后芳纶纤维表面元素变化进行了研究, 探讨了芳纶纤维对水泥砂浆的增强机制。      

磁场诱导定向碳纤维增强水泥砂浆的力学性能

首次利用磁场诱导定向技术,制备了具有明显择优取向的碳纤维增强水泥砂浆,表征与测试了不同水灰比、龄期和纤维掺量的水泥砂浆的碳纤维取向、抗压和劈裂抗拉强度,研究了碳纤维的取向性对力学性能提升效果的影响。结果表明:水灰比、纤维掺量对碳纤维的取向性有显著影响;相较于无择优取向的普通碳纤维增强水泥砂浆,经磁场诱导定向的碳纤维增强水泥砂浆的劈裂抗拉强度有显著增加,而抗压强度无明显变化;相同水灰比下,纤维取向和纤维掺量是影响定向碳纤维增强水泥砂浆劈裂抗拉强度的主要因素。其中,定向碳纤维增强水泥砂浆劈裂抗拉强度增强效率的最佳碳纤维掺量为水泥的0.50%。      

Material and bond properties of ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete with micro steel fibers

For investigating the effect of fiber content on the material and interfacial bond properties of ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC), four different volume ratios of micro steel fibers (V_f = 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) were used within an identical mortar matrix. Test results showed that 3% steel fiber by volume yielded the best performance in terms of compressive strength, elastic modulus, shrinkage behavior, and interfacial bond strength. These parameters improved as the fiber content was increased up to 3 vol.%. Flexural behaviors such as flexural strength, deflection, and crack mouth opening displacement at peak load had pseudo-linear relationships with the fiber content. Through inverse analysis, it was shown that fracture parameters including cohesive stress and fracture energy are significantly influenced by the fiber content: higher cohesive stress and fracture energy were achieved with higher fiber content. The analytical models for the ascending branch of bond stress-slip response suggested in the literature were considered for UHPFRC, and appropriate parameters were derived from the present test data.     

Effect of silica fume, steel fiber and ITZ on the strength and fracture behavior of mortar

Two sets of parameters known to affect the quality and thickness of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), i.e. water/binder ratio and content of silica fume were varied in a series of mortars without and with steel fiber. Compressive and three-point bending tests were performed and the dissipated energies were calculated. Nanoindentation characteristics of the steel fiber–matrix and fiber–matrix-aggregate interfacial zones in the steel fiber reinforced mortars were studied. Influence of water/binder ratio, steel fiber, silica fume and ITZ on the strength and toughness of the mortar was analyzed, respectively. It is found that mortar compressive strength can be increased with low volume addition of steel fiber if the air content is well controlled; the interfacial characteristic and microstructural morphology near the fiber surface play a critical role on the three-point bending strength and the toughness of the steel fiber reinforced mortar.     

钢纤维对超高性能混凝土抗弯力学性能的影响

为研究长、短钢纤维对超高性能混凝土（UHPC）受弯力学性能的影响,设计并制作了13组标准养护条件下的UHPC试件,其中3组为掺单一型短钢纤维,其他组均为掺混杂型钢纤维,对其进行立方体抗压及四点抗折试验。结果表明：对于掺加单一型短钢纤维的钢纤维/UHPC,钢纤维体积掺量为5vol%时,抗折强度最大,为19.98 MPa,继续增加钢纤维掺量,抗折强度反而降低;掺混杂型钢纤维的UHPC比单一型的抗折强度高,并且当长、短钢纤维体积掺量分别为2vol%和1vol%时,抗折强度达到最大,为23.55 MPa;钢纤维/UHPC的抗弯力学性能主要受长纤维的影响,短纤维影响较小;长纤维掺量对钢纤维/UHPC的抗折强度、延性以及抗弯韧性有一定影响,但是主要取决于长、短纤维的搭配,长、短纤维体积掺量最优搭配为2vol%和1vol%。     

Function of styrene-acrylic ester copolymer latex in cement mortar

This paper focuses on the effect of the styrene-acrylic ester copolymer (SAE) latex on the performance of cement mortar, through studying on the water-reduction and water-retention effects of the SAE latex in the mortar, and the influence of the SAE latex on the air-content and the bulk density of the fresh mortar and the bulk density, compressive and flexural strengths, shrinkage rate, water capillary adsorption and anti-penetration capacity of the hardened mortar. The experimental results show that the SAE latex has good water-reduction and water-retention effects in mortar. The SAE latex has also air entrainment effect, increasing the air content and reducing the bulk density of the fresh mortar. The apparent bulk density and dry bulk density of the hardened mortars decrease with the increase of the SAE latex/cement-ratio (m_p/m_c) and the change is in accordance with that for the bulk density of the fresh mortar. The SAE latex influences the development of the compressive strength but slightly on the flexural strength, and improves the toughness, shrinkage property, waterproofing quality and anti-penetration capacity of the mortar significantly.     

The spalling strength of ultra-fiber reinforced cement mortar

This is a research report about the effects of polypropylene fiber and wood fiber on mechanical properties of cement mortar. First, using advanced Hopkinson pressure bar (HPB) tests, it investigates the wave propagation in cement mortar comprised polypropylene fiber and wood fiber. Second, according to the experiment, the spallation position is recorded by high-speed camera. Thirdly, it analyzes the test data of ultra-fiber reinforced and common cement mortar by numerical method. Finally, it deduces the spalling strength of all kinds of cement mortar by integrating all experimental data above. The results indicate that, compared with the strength of common cement mortar, the dynamic spalling strength of ultra-fiber especially that of the polypropylene fiber reinforced cement mortar increases evidently. However, adding too much fibers will deteriorate the dynamic spalling strength of cement mortar specimen. So the results will provide a test basis for further optimizing performance of cement mortar.     

Reinforcement effects of polyvinyl alcohol and polypropylene fibers on flexural behaviors of sulfoaluminate cement matrices

The fracture behavior of unoiled/uncoated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber reinforced sulphoaluminate cement (SAC) matrices was experimentally investigated and compared with those of polypropylene (PP) fiber reinforced SAC and PVA fiber reinforced Portland cement (PC) matrices in this study. In the experimental investigation, three-point bending tests were carried out for notched fiber reinforced cement beams. Special attentions were paid on their deflection-hardening and multiple crack patterns. The different flexural behaviors between the plain SAC and PC matrices were evaluated using the double-K fracture model. The results indicate that the PVA fiber reinforced SAC matrices exhibited better flexural behaviors when compared with the PVA fiber reinforced PC matrix having comparable matrix strength. The bond strength between SAC matrix and PVA fiber are relatively better than that between the counterpart PC matrix and PVA fiber, while the bond strength between SAC matrix and PVA fiber is obviously stronger than that between the SAC and PP fibers.     

Flexural behavior of geopolymer composites reinforced with steel and polypropylene macro fibers

Like ordinary Portland cement concrete, the matrix brittleness in geopolymer composites can be reduced by introducing appropriate fiber reinforcement. Several studies on fiber reinforced geopolymer composites are available, however there is still a gap to understand and optimize their performance. This paper presents the flexural behavior of fly ash-based geopolymer composites reinforced with different types of macro steel and polypropylene fibers with higher aspect ratio. Three types (length-deformed, end-deformed and straight) of steel fibers and another type of length-deformed polypropylene fiber with optimum fiber volume fraction of 0.5% are studied. The effects of different geometries of the fibers, curing regimes (ambient cured and heat cured at 60 °C for 24 h) and concentration of NaOH activator (10 M and 12 M) on the first peak strength, modulus of rupture and toughness of the geopolymer composites are investigated. The quantitative effect of fiber geometry on geopolymer composite performance was also analyzed through a fiber deformation ratio. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural toughness are significantly improved with macro fibers reinforcement and heat curing. The results also show that heat curing increases the first peak load of all fiber-reinforced geopolymers composites. End-deformed steel fibers exhibit the most ductile flexural response compared to other steel fibers in both heat and ambient-cured fiber reinforced geopolymer composites.     

钢-聚丙烯纤维增强人造花岗岩复合材料的制备与性能

为深入研究钢-聚丙烯纤维增强人造花岗岩复合材料（钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩）抗压、抗弯强度的影响因素,通过排水法实验研究了骨料堆积的空隙率,确定了骨料级配和实验指数q并对大量试件进行了抗压、抗弯强度测试,分析了钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩复合材料各组分质量分数、骨料堆积空隙率等因素对钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩复合材料抗压、抗弯强度的影响。实验结果表明:钢纤维与聚丙烯纤维能够明显增大钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩复合材料的抗弯强度,随着钢-聚丙烯纤维质量分数的增加,钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩复合材料试件的抗压和抗弯强度都逐渐增大;当钢纤维与聚丙烯纤维质量比为30∶1、钢-聚丙烯纤维质量分数为1.7wt%时,钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩复合材料试件的抗压强度达到最大,当钢-聚丙烯纤维质量分数为1.9wt%时,钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩试件的抗弯强度达到最大;黏结剂质量分数越接近骨料堆积空隙率,钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩复合材料试件的抗压和抗弯强度越大,当骨料质量分数为80wt%、黏结剂质量分数为11wt%时,钢-聚丙烯纤维/人造花岗岩复合材料试件的抗压、抗弯强度同时达到最大。      

Effects of stirrup,steel fiber,and beam size on shear behavior of high-strength concrete beams

This study investigates the effectiveness of steel fibers and minimum amount of stirrups on the shear response of various sized reinforced high-strength concrete (HSC) beams. For this, six large reinforced HSC beams with a shear span-to-depth ratio (a/d) of 3.2 were manufactured. Three of them contained 0.75% (by volume) steel fibers without stirrups as per ACI Committee 318, while the rest were reinforced with the minimum amount of stirrups without fibers. Test results indicate that, with increasing beam size, significantly lower shear strength was obtained for steel fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete (SFR-HSC) beams without stirrups, than for the plain HSC beams with stirrups. The inclusion of steel fibers effectively limited crack propagation, produced more diffused initial flexural cracks, and led to higher post-cracking stiffness, compared to plain HSC. On the other hand, the use of minimum stirrups gave better shear cracking behaviors than that of steel fibers, and effectively mitigated the size effect on shear strength. Therefore, a large decrease in shear strength, with an increase in the beam size, was only obtained for SFR-HSC beams without stirrups. A shear strength decrease of 129% was obtained by increasing the effective depth from 181 mm to 887 mm. The shear strengths of reinforced steel fiber-reinforced concrete beams were not accurately predicted by most previous prediction models. Therefore, a new shear strength formula, based on a larger dataset, that considers the size effect, is required.     

玻璃纤维对磷酸镁水泥砂浆力学性能的增强作用及机理

添加不同体积比的玻璃纤维,按照一定比例配制玻璃纤维增强磷酸镁水泥。研究了玻璃纤维增强磷酸镁水泥的抗压强度、抗折强度以及耐水性,并采用电镜扫描的方法对其微观结构进行了观察。研究结果表明,玻璃纤维对磷酸镁水泥的抗压强度和抗折强度都有一定贡献,其中纤维的最佳体积掺量约为2.5%,但超过最佳掺量后,抗压和抗折强度都有所降低。另外,实验结果还表明,稍过量的玻璃纤维能够暂时"包裹"未反应基材,可能在浸水环境中发生又一轮反应,从而抵消因浸水造成的强度损失,这可能是一种改善磷酸镁水泥耐水性的新方法。此外,本工作提供了与实验结果一致的纤维增强机理的可能解释。     

Use of biochar-coated polypropylene fibers for carbon sequestration and physical improvement of mortar

Biochar is widely recognized as an effective material for sequestration of carbon dioxide. The possibility of using it as a coating material on polypropylene fibers to improve mechanical properties and permeability mortar is explored in this study. Effectiveness of two types of biochar – fresh biochar and biochar saturated with carbon dioxide prior to application as coating – on compressive and flexural strength, post-cracking behavior and permeability of mortar is studied. The biochar used was derived from mixed wood saw dust by pyrolysis at 300 °C. Experimental results show that application of fresh biochar coating offer significant improvement in compressive strength and flexural strength of mortar. Residual strength and post-cracking ductility of mortar with biochar coated fibers is found to be higher than control samples, although fresh biochar coating offers the best performance. Mortar with polypropylene fibers coated with fresh biochar shows higher impermeability, compared to reference samples and mortar with saturated biochar coated fibers. The findings suggest that biochar coating could be a potential solution to improve properties of fiber reinforced cementitious composites that also promotes waste recycling and carbon sequestration.     

玄武岩/聚丙烯纤维水泥砂浆的力学性能与抗裂性

研究了玄武岩纤维、聚丙烯纤维单独和混杂掺加对水泥砂浆工作性、力学性能和抗裂性的影响.结果表明,在掺率为0.075%～0.20%(体积分数)的范围内,单独掺加玄武岩纤维和聚丙烯纤维均可以不同程度地提高水泥砂浆的抗折强度和早期抗压强度,而对28d抗压强度均有不利影响;在体积掺率相同的情况下,掺加玄武岩纤维的砂浆比掺加聚丙烯纤维的砂浆具有更好的力学性能;玄武岩纤维与聚丙烯纤维以适当比例混杂掺加时,可以得到较掺加单一种类纤维更好的效果;混杂纤维可以有效地改善水泥砂浆的韧性,提高水泥砂浆的抗裂性能.     

Steel fiber reinforced high-performance concrete: a study on the mechanical properties and resistance against impact

Steel fiber reinforced high-performance concrete (SFRHPC) was prepared by fluidized mortar and steel fibers; the manufacturing process was a combination of mortar infiltrating and vibration. With increase in fiber volume fraction (V_f), mechanical properties of SFRHPC were significantly improved. The peak compressive and flexural strength of SFRHPC reached 140 MPa and 80MPa respectively, increasing by 61% and 774% compared with those of the hardened mortar without fiber reinforcement. The peak flexural-to-compressive strength ratio was 0.6. Failure pattern of SFRHPC was in a pseudo plastic manner with multiple cracking. In simulation test, targets made of SFRHPC were subjected to high velocity impact by projectiles and compared with those targets made of reinforced high strength concrete (RHSC). Test results showed that RHSC targets were smashed up while SFRHPC targets kept intact with several radial cracks in the front faces and some minor cracks in the side faces. The projectiles were either embedded in or rebounded from SFRHPC targets. Relationship between the impact resistance and characteristics of SFRHPC targets was discussed.     

Cellulosic fibers from rice straw and bamboo used as reinforcement of cement-based composites for remarkably improving mechanical properties

The cement-based composites reinforced with cellulosic fibers isolated from rice straw were fabricated by a slurry vacuum de-watering technique. The physical structures and mechanical properties of the composites with fiber contents ranging from 2% to 16% by weight (wt.%) were investigated. Moreover, the composites reinforced with bamboo cellulosic fibers and the control cement paste, sample without cellulosic fibers, were also fabricated as reference materials. As a result, the cement-based composites reinforced by cellulosic fibers showed a remarkable improvement in the mechanical properties. The measurements of the flexural strength and the fracture toughness of the optimal sample were found to be increased by 24.3% and 45 times, respectively. The bulk density of the composites was decreased by 12.4–37.3% as a result of the introduction of cellulosic fibers. Additionally, the field emission scanning electron microscope (FSEM) observations and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses revealed that the hydration products of Portland cement migrated to the fiber lumens, resulting in mineralizing the cellulosic fibers and decreasing the fracture toughness of the composites.     

Effects of super plasticizer and curing conditions on properties of concrete with and without fiber

In this study, effects of super plasticizer (SP) and curing conditions on properties of concrete with and without fiber were investigated. In the concrete mixtures, Portland cement, artificial aggregate, SP and steel fibers were used. SP in concrete mixtures was used with ratios of 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% by weight of cement and so C25 concrete was produced with and without fiber. Specimens were cured under two different curing conditions being continuous moist curing and open-air curing. Produced concrete with and without fiber were compared with each other as well as with Portland cement concrete. The highest compressive and flexural strength were obtained with 1.0% and 1.5% SP fiber reinforced concrete, respectively.