A new model for the cracking process and tensile ductility of Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC)

Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC) are materials exhibiting tensile hardening behavior up to several percent strain accompanied by the formation of fine multiple cracks. Their tensile ductility is governed by the spacing and opening of cracks, which depend on the stress transfer between the fibers and the matrix. In this article, a new analytic model which takes into consideration the effects of non-uniform matrix strength, post-cracking increase in fiber bridging stress and fiber rupture on stress transfer and multiple cracking behavior of SHCC is developed. Using material parameters within the range reported in the literature, simulation results can reach reasonable agreement with test data on SHCC for two different fiber contents. The effect of fiber length on tensile behavior of SHCC is then simulated to illustrate the applicability of the model to material design. The new model should be helpful to the micromechanics-based design of SHCC for various ductility requirements.     

Relation between fibre distribution and post-cracking behaviour in steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete panels

In this research, the influence of the fibre distribution and orientation on the post-cracking behaviour of steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete (SFRSCC) panels was studied. To perform this evaluation, SFRSCC panels were cast from their centre point. For each SFRSCC panel, cylindrical specimens were extracted and notched either parallel or perpendicular to the concrete flow direction, in order to evaluate the influence of fibre dispersion and orientation on the tensile performance. The post-cracking behaviour was assessed by both splitting tensile tests and uniaxial tensile tests. To assess the fibre density and orientation through the panels, an image analysis technique was employed across cut planes on each tested specimen. It is found that the splitting tensile test overestimates the post-cracking parameters. Specimens with notched plane parallel to the concrete flow direction show considerable higher post-cracking strength than specimens with notched plane perpendicular to the flow direction.     

Derivation of a crack opening deflection relationship for fibre reinforced concrete panels using a stochastic model: Application for predicting the flexural behaviour of round panels using stress crack opening diagrams

This study is aimed at proposing a simple analytical model to investigate the post-cracking behaviour of FRC panels, using an arbitrary tension softening, stress crack opening diagram, as the input. A new relationship that links the crack opening to the panel deflection is proposed. Due to the stochastic nature of material properties, the random fibre distribution, and other uncertainties that are involved in concrete mix, this relationship is developed from the analysis of beams having the same thickness using the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) technique. The softening diagrams obtained from direct tensile tests are used as the input for the calculation, in a deterministic way, of the mean load displacement response of round panels. A good agreement is found between the model predictions and the experimental results.     

Influence of steel fibers on the development of alkali-aggregate reaction

This work presents the results of an experimental research concerning the use of fibers in mortar specimens subjected to alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR). Two types of steel fibers (0.16 mm diameter and 6.0 mm length, and 0.20 mm diameter and 13.0 mm length) were used with fiber volume contents of 1% and 2%. Besides the expansion accelerated tests, compressive tests and flexural tests have also been carried out to display the main mechanical characteristics of the fiber-reinforced mortars after being subjected to AAR. Moreover, the microstructure of the specimens was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray. The results shown that the addition of steel fibers reduced the expansion due to AAR for the experimental conditions studied in this paper. The most expressive benefit corresponded to the addition of 13.0 mm fibers in the mixture containing 2% fiber content. This fiber volume content also corresponded to the maximum increment in the mechanical properties compared to the reference mortar, mainly for the post-cracking strength and for the toughness in bending. It was observed that the fibers have a beneficial effect on the material, without compromising its main mechanical properties.     

Effect of fiber-aspect ratio and orientation on the stress-strain behavior of aligned,short-fiber-reinforced,ductile epoxy

In the study of complex short-fiber-reinforced plastics behavior, it is helpful to begin with a well-aligned short-fiber system. This study isolates the effects of fiber-aspect ratio and orientation distributions on the tensile stress- strain behavior and failure mechanisms for a system containing 50 vol% E-glass fiber bundles in a ductileepoxy matrix. Using a system wherein the fiber orientation distribution was well-characterized, it is shown that the fibers reinforced as bundles rather than as individual fibers. As the bundle-aspect ratio varied from 185 to 557 for samples tasted in the longitudinal majoralignment direction, the modulus rose from 85 to 99 percent of the value for a continuous fiber system, while the strength rose only to about 60 percent of the continuous-fiber system. The ductility of the matrix had no effect on the modulus or the longitudinal strengths, but the off-axis strengths were significantly higher than has been reported for a comparable brittle-matrix system. The effects of fiber orientation on modulus and strength were successfully fit with the Leknitskii and Azzi-Tsai equations, respectively. SCanning electron micros-copy showed excellent adhesion and no fiber brekage, except at the highest bundle-aspect ratio. Even at off-axis angles below 15°, a mixed mode failure mechanism occurs because of the fiber orientation distribution.     

Predicting the pullout response of inclined hooked steel fibers

Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is symptomatically an anisotropic material due to the random orientation of fibers within the cement matrix. Fibers under different inclination angles provide different strength contributions at a given crack width. Therefore the pullout response of inclined fibers is a paramount subject to understand and quantify SFRC behavior, particularly in the case of fibers with hooked ends, which are currently the most widely used. Several experimental results were considered to validate the approach and to assure its suitability on distinct material properties and boundary conditions. The good agreement on predicting the pullout behavior of these fibers encourages its use towards a new concept of design and optimization of SFRC.     

Simple tools for fiber orientation prediction in industrial practice

In this paper, the two origins of the preferred orientation of fibers are first reviewed. We then propose a definition of what to call an oriented fiber from a practical point of view in the cementitious material field. Considering typical industrial flows and materials, we identify the dominant phenomena and orientation characteristic time involved in the fiber orientation process in the construction industry. We show that shear induced fiber orientation is almost instantaneous at the time scale of a typical casting process. We moreover emphasize the fact that shear induced orientation is far stronger in the case of fluid materials such as self compacting concretes. The proposed approach is validated on experimental measurements in a simple channel flow. Finally, a semi-empirical relation allowing for the prediction of the average orientation factor in a section as a function of the rheological behavior, the length of the fibers and the geometry of the element to be cast is proposed.     

黄麻与聚乙烯醇纤维增强水泥土的弯曲及早期抗裂性能

深层水泥土搅拌桩围护墙具有水泥基材料的特性,包括脆性破坏以及较低的拉伸强度和弯曲强度,且温度应力产生的干燥收缩可能会导致裂缝的产生并引起墙体渗漏和塌陷。本文研究了黄麻纤维和聚乙烯醇(PVA)纤维增强水泥土搅拌桩的弯曲性能和裂后性能,并对纤维改善水泥土早期干缩裂缝的效果进行了对比。结果表明,随着黄麻纤维和PVA纤维含量的增加,第一裂缝弯曲强度和峰值弯曲强度均逐渐增加。纤维对改善水泥土的裂后性能起着至关重要的作用,水泥土残余弯曲强度比、延性指数和韧性随纤维含量增加显著提高。黄麻纤维在韧性方面的表现略好于PVA纤维,在其他裂后指标上两种纤维差距较小。采用数字图像相关方法研究纤维对水泥土早期塑性收缩裂缝的影响,结果表明,水泥土中添加纤维可有效抑制干燥条件下收缩裂缝的形成和扩展,纤维的掺入有效减小了水泥土干缩裂缝的宽度和数量,且纤维含量越多效果越佳。     

Fatigue-induced deterioration of the interface between micro-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber and cement matrix

Quality of interfacial bond between fibers and matrix determines the post-cracking behavior of fiber-reinforced composites. Fatigue-induced interface deterioration between fibers and matrix has not been investigated systematically which prevents understanding of premature failure of fiber-reinforced composites subject to fatigue. This study experimentally investigated the deterioration mechanism of flexible fibers in brittle matrix subject to fatigue load. Specifically, the effect of fatigue-induced deterioration of interface between micro-PVA fiber and cement matrix was studied through the single fiber fatigue pullout tests and the micro-structural deterioration mechanism of the fiber-matrix interface under fatigue load was unveiled. It was found that fatigue load leads to fiber debonding which can be described by an empirical relation similar to the Paris' law. Fatigue-induced interface hardening can occur during fiber debonding stage as well as fiber slippage stage. Oil-treatment on surface of micro-PVA fiber was demonstrated as a mean to mitigate such fatigue-induced interface hardening.     

Effect of shrinkage reducing admixture on tensile and flexural behaviors of UHPFRC considering fiber distribution characteristics

This study investigated the effect of shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) on the properties of ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) including fluidity, compressive, single fiber pullout, tensile and flexural behaviors. In addition, the influence of fiber distribution characteristics such as fiber orientation, fiber dispersion, number of fibers, and packing density on the flexural behavior of UHPFRC was evaluated according to the amount of SRA, using an image processing technique that was developed. Three different SRA to cement weight ratios (0%, 1%, and 2%) were investigated on UHPFRC with 2 vol.% of steel fibers. The specimen without SRA exhibited the best performance in compressive, single fiber pullout, and tensile behaviors including load carrying capacity, strain capacity, and energy absorption capacity and had a highly densified interfacial transition zone between fiber and matrix. In particular, the flexural strength of UHPFRC varied with the fiber distribution characteristics, rather than the amount of SRA.     

Durability of thermomechanical pulp fiber-cement composites to wet/dry cycling

Previous research efforts on pulp fiber-cement composites have largely concentrated on kraft pulp fiber composites. In this research program, thermomechanical pulp (TMP) fibers were investigated as an economical alternative to kraft pulp fibers as reinforcement in fiber-cement composites. Prior to wet/dry cycling, TMP composites exhibited increased first crack strength, but lower peak strength and lower post-cracking toughness, as compared to unbleached and bleached kraft pulp composites at equivalent fiber volume fractions. It is believed that this behavior can be attributed to the lower tensile strength and shorter fiber length of TMP fibers as compared to kraft fibers. After 25 wet/dry cycles, TMP composites showed losses in first crack (peak) strength and post-cracking toughness. However, TMP composites exhibited a slower progression of degradation during wet/dry cycling than composites containing bleached or unbleached kraft fibers.     

三维编织Cf/SiC复合材料的拉伸破坏行为

通过三维编织碳纤维(carbon fiber，Cf)／SiC复合材料样品单向拉伸以及单向拉伸加卸载实验．结合样品断口观察．从宏观上分析了三维编织Cf／SiC复合材料单向拉伸时的力学响应，为进一步描述三维编织Cf／SiC复合材料力学行为奠定了实验基础。实验结果表明：三维编织Cf／SiC复合材料单向拉伸时，卸载模量衰减与应力呈线性关系，残余应变的增加与应力呈二次函数关系。微裂纹主要在编织节点处萌生，沿纤维束界面扩展，最终在编织节点处汇合，导致样品发生破坏。     

The onset of cracking and ductility of steel fiber concrete

The influence of steel fiber reinforcement on the onset of cracking, ductility and energy absorption capacity in flexure is reported. The automatic load-deflection curve predicts a consistently higher load for the onset of cracking than those obtained from strain, pulse velocity and deflection measurements. Fiber reinforcement increases the onset of flexural cracking. However, there is a minimum fiber volume below which only the onset of cracking is increased without any increase in the ultimate flexural strength. The most significant role of fiber reinforcement lies in increasing the post-cracking properties of ductility, tensile strain capability and energy absorption capacity. The increase in flexural modulus is nominal but the resulting crack control and strain capability can be used in design to enhance the serviceability behavior of conventional structural members by the provision of a fiber tensile skin.     

Pineapple leaf fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites: Effects of fiber length and fiber content on their characteristics

Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) was used as a reinforcement in polyolefins. Polypropylene (PP) and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) composites with different fiber lengths (long and short fibers) and fiber contents (0–25%) were prepared and characterized. The results showed that the tensile strength of the composites increased when the PALF contents were increased. It was observed that the composites containing long fiber PALF were stronger than the short fiber composites as determined by greater tensile strength. An SEM study on the tensile fractured surface confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of the long fibers in the polymer matrixes better than dispersion of the short fibers. The unidirectional arrangement of the long fibers provided good interfacial bonding between the PALF and polymer which was a crucial factor in achieving high strength composites. Reduction in crystallinity of the composites, as evident from XRD and DSC studies suggested that the reinforcing effect of PALF played an important role in enhancing their mechanical strength. From the rule of mixtures, the stress efficiency factors of the composite strength could be calculated. The stress efficiency factors of LDPE were greater than those of PP. This would possibly explain why the high modulus fiber (PALF) had better load transfers to the ductile matrix of LDPE than the brittle matrix of PP. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Binder fiber distribution and tensile properties of thermally point bonded cotton‐based nonwovens

Cotton‐based nonwovens are generally produced by carding and then bonding. One of the most important characteristics of nonwoven materials is the uniformity of their structure and properties. However, the carded webs always have irregularities caused by processing and material variables. The binder fiber distribution in carded cotton‐based nonwoven fabrics was analyzed based on the crystallization behavior of one of the components of the binder fibers by DSC. The effects of process parameters, such as bonding temperature and binder fiber component, on the uniformity were discussed in detail in this article. Also, the relationship of binder fiber distribution and the strip tensile property and single‐bond tensile strength were investigated. The results showed that if the binder fibers were not well distributed in the fabric, it would be hard to get the same trend of temperature effect on tensile property for the strip and single‐bond tests. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3148–3155, 2004     

Cohesive fracture model for functionally graded fiber reinforced concrete

A simple, effective, and practical constitutive model for cohesive fracture of fiber reinforced concrete is proposed by differentiating the aggregate bridging zone and the fiber bridging zone. The aggregate bridging zone is related to the total fracture energy of plain concrete, while the fiber bridging zone is associated with the difference between the total fracture energy of fiber reinforced concrete and the total fracture energy of plain concrete. The cohesive fracture model is defined by experimental fracture parameters, which are obtained through three-point bending and split tensile tests. As expected, the model describes fracture behavior of plain concrete beams. In addition, it predicts the fracture behavior of either fiber reinforced concrete beams or a combination of plain and fiber reinforced concrete functionally layered in a single beam specimen. The validated model is also applied to investigate continuously, functionally graded fiber reinforced concrete composites.     

Study of the mechanical properties of mica-filled polypropylene-based GMT composite

Mica-filled polypropylene (PP)-based GMT (PP–mica–GMT) was prepared by a double-belt press and its mechanical properties were tested. The effect of the mica content on the mechanical properties of PP–mica–GMT was investigated. It was found that with a lower mica content in matrix the tensile and flexural properties were improved; however, at a high mica content level, the tensile and flexural properties decreased. With respect to the impact strength, there is a maximum value at an approximate 20 wt % mica content level. These results were attributed to the influence of mica on fiber–matrix adhesion. It is most likely that low mica content enhances fiber–matrix adhesion; however, high mica content is unfavorable to fiber–matrix adhesion. Maleic anhydride-grafted PP (MPP) was used to enhance the fiber–matrix adhesion at a higher mica loading level for PP–mica–GMT. With increasing MPP content in the matrix, the tensile properties were significantly improved, whereas the Izod impact strength decreased. In addition, with 5 wt % MPP and 40 wt % mica in the PP matrix formulation, the effect of the mica particle size and glass fiber content on the mechanical properties of PP–mica–GMT was investigated. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2719–2728, 2001     

Orientation factor and number of fibers at failure plane in ring-type steel fiber reinforced concrete

Considering the probabilistic distributions of fibers in ring-type steel fiber reinforced concrete, the orientation factor and the number of ring-type steel fibers crossing the failure plane were theoretically derived as a function of fiber geometry, specimen dimensions, and fiber volume fraction. A total number of 24 specimens were tested incorporating different fiber types, specimen geometry, and fiber volume fractions of 0.2% and 0.4%: 5 beams and 5 panels containing straight steel fibers; and 6 beams and 8 panels containing ring-type steel fibers. Measurements were made to assess the number of fibers at fractured surfaces of steel fiber reinforced concrete. The developed theoretical expressions reasonably predicted the orientation factor and the number of ring-type steel fibers at failure plane: the average and the standard deviation for the ratios of the test to theory were 1.03 and 0.26, respectively. Theoretical investigations and comparisons were made for the values of orientation factor and the number of fibers at failure plane for straight steel fibers and ring-type steel fibers.     

Preparation and anisotropic mechanical behavior of highly‐oriented electrospun poly(butylene terephthalate) fibers

This work describes the effect of the speed of drum‐type rotating collector in an electrospinning process on the orientation of electrospun poly(butylene terephthalate) fiber mats, and its effect on the tensile properties. The degree of orientation increased with the increase in the drum speed (surface velocity) up to a critical level, and thereafter, wavy fibers were observed. The average diameter reduced and its distribution became narrower with increase in the velocity. The mechanical properties in a parallel direction improved about three times with increase in the surface velocity. The anisotropic mechanical behavior could be predicted with a simple classical equation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2017–2021, 2006     

Effects of process conditions on Young's modulus and strength of extrudate in short‐fiber‐reinforced polypropylene

We examined the effects of process conditions on Young's modulus and tensile strength of extruded short‐fiber reinforced thermoplastics. With increasing extrusion ratio and decreasing extrusion temperature, the fiber alignment increases, the mean fiber length decreases, and the mechanical properties of the matrix are improved. The orientation parameter, mean fiber length, Young's modulus, and tensile strength of the matrix are described as a function of extrusion ratio and extrusion temperature. The models proposed by Fukuda and Kawata, and Fukuda and Chou are applied to predict Young's modulus and tensile strength of the composites using orientation parameter. By comparing the predicted Young's modulus and tensile strength with experimental results, the validity of the models is examined. The prediction of Young's modulus agreed quit with the experimental results. The tensile strength of composite extruded below the melting point nearly matched that of the neat matrix. There is no the strengthening effect of the fiber since the angle between fracture surface and fiber direction is very small. POLYM. COMPOS. 28:29–35, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers