A self-reinforced cementitious composite for building-scale 3D printing

A design scheme for self-reinforced cementitious composites to be used for building-scale 3D printing processes is introduced. The design is based on that of engineered cementitious composites, which include dispersed short polymer fibers to generate robust tensile strain-hardening. The mechanical property profile of these printable ECC materials is meant to eliminate the need for steel reinforcement in printed structures, providing more freedom and efficiency for building-scale 3D printing processes. The fresh state rheological properties have been systematically manipulated to allow printability. Effects on fresh state workability of several compositional ingredients and processing parameters are investigated herein. To maintain consistent printing performance with a batch mixing approach, thixotropy in the fresh state is exploited to temporarily decouple hardening behavior from the processing timeline. Minimal workability loss under continued shear agitation is achieved. Mechanical properties of the printable materials are characterized and the printability of the materials is demonstrated.     

聚乙烯醇纤维增强钢渣粉-水泥复合材料基本力学性能及微观结构

通过掺加钢渣粉来制备聚乙烯醇（PVA）纤维增强钢渣粉-水泥基复合材料,从宏微观两个方面研究了这种复合材料的性能。考虑了基体材料的水胶比（0.25和0.35）、不同钢渣粉质量分数（0、30wt%、60wt%、80wt%）,采用抗压强度试验、薄板四点弯曲试验研究了PVA纤维增强钢渣粉-水泥基复合材料的基本力学性能变化规律及其在弯曲荷载作用下的裂缝控制能力,采用扫描电镜观测了破坏后试样的微观结构。结果表明,水胶比和钢渣粉掺量均可明显影响PVA纤维增强钢渣粉-水泥基复合材料的基本力学性能,在低水胶比条件下（水胶比为0.25）,钢渣粉掺量达到80wt%时,试样表现出较高的韧性指数和良好的裂缝控制能力,基本满足工程所需强度要求,水胶比为0.35时钢渣掺量不宜超过60wt%;同时,从节能减排的角度考虑,利用钢渣粉制备PVA纤维增强钢渣粉-水泥基复合材料是可行的。      

High performance composites in spun-cast elements

Spin-casting is an effective fabrication method to produce concrete poles, masts or pipes. Through the centrifugal process the concrete is compacted and the desired shape, mostly round or ellipsoidal, is obtained. The concrete generally has to be reinforced with steel bars which are susceptible to corrosion. Furthermore, the placement of the reinforcement is time consuming and hence expensive and leads to rather thick and heavy structural elements. The application of short-fiber reinforced cement pastes or mortar is a suitable alternative.

Special requirements regarding workability and strength have to be considered. An optimization of the cement matrix was achieved with a blend of microfine cement and ordinary Portland cement, improving the rheological properties of the fresh mixture and resulting in a dense cement matrix with excellent mechanical properties. Reinforcement with different kinds of short-fibers of carbon and polyvinylalcohol (PVA) was studied.

Flow properties of the fiber reinforced cement composite were optimized with regard to the centrifugal process by applying a newly developed cone-consistency test. The mechanical properties of conventionally cast specimens and of centrifuged prototypes were determined and their durability was verified. Workable, high strength, ductile and durable fiber reinforced composites were obtained in spin-cast elements.     

纤维增强水泥薄板及其复合梁抗弯性能研究

实验研究了纤维对水泥基复合材料抗弯性能的影响.结果表明,聚乙烯醇(PVA)纤维增强挤压脱水成型板材在弯曲荷载作用下呈现多点开裂、应变硬化的特性,具有良好的延性,聚丙烯(PP)纤维增强挤压脱水成型板材呈应变软化的特性,木纤维增强挤压脱水成型板材则呈脆性破坏;与普通混凝土梁相比,冷浇和热浇纤维增强板-混凝土组合梁的抗弯强度...     

Water permeability of engineered cementitious composites

The water permeability of a unique class of high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) called engineered cementitious composites (ECC) is investigated. These composites are deliberately tailored using microcmechanical design principles to exhibit pseudo-strain-hardening characteristics in uniaxial tension, up to greater than 4% strain. While undergoing tensile deformation, microcracks are designed to saturate the specimen rather than localize into large cracks. This tendency to form microcracks, which are experimentally shown to be approximately 60 μm in width, allows ECC material in the cracked state to maintain water permeability similar to that of uncracked concrete or mortar, and magnitudes lower than cracked reinforced mortar or concrete. It is also shown that the self-healing properties of cracks within ECC material significantly aids in reducing the coefficient of permeability of cracked ECC.     

Effect of shrinkage reducing admixture on flexural behaviors of fiber reinforced cementitious composites

The use of shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) at various concentrations was investigated in fiber reinforced cementitious composites. Both mortar and high strength concrete (HSC) matrices were tested. Two types of fibers—steel and polypropylene—were assessed. The effect of SRA was measured on the fundamental properties such as surface tension of the bulk fluids and the contact angle developed between the fibers and the bulk fluids, on the fresh properties such as the air content and the density, and finally on the hardened mechanical properties, specially the flexural behaviors. It was noted that SRA enhances the wettability of fibers and reduces the air content of fiber reinforced cement mortars, while critical SRA concentrations are existing. SRA with critical concentration can significantly improve the flexural toughness and residual strength of steel fiber reinforced cement mortar. In the case of polypropylene fiber, SRA is not as effective in enhancing the flexural behaviors as it is in the case of steel fiber. SRA is generally ineffective in reducing the air content of HSC and the properties of steel fiber reinforced HSC with SRA are inferior to those without SRA.     

Characterization of rheology of fresh fiber reinforced cementitious composites through ram extrusion

Rheology behavior of fresh short fiber reinforced cementitious composites was investigated through ram extrusion. The experimental results were interpreted by a six-parameter Benbow-Bridgwater model. The effects of water contents, matrix composition, fiber volume and fiber types on the die entry and die land pressure were investigated and related to the compositions of the fresh short fiber reinforced cementitious composites. The six rheological parameters, together with the dynamic bulk stress and dynamic surface shear stress, were derived and compared for various composites. It was found that fresh short fiber reinforced cementitious composites had an obvious pseudo-plasticity and shear-thinning behavior. The water content, fiber concentration, fiber type and cement matrix influenced the rheology of the fresh composites in different mechanisms. The quantitative rheology parameters, such as bulk yield stress, dynamic bulk stress, wall shear yield stress and dynamic surface shear stress, provided promising interpretations for experimental results.

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Résumé Le comportement rhéologique de composites cimentaires, frais, renforcés de fibres courtes a été identifié à l'aide d'une extrudeuse à piston. Les résultats expérimentaux sont interprétés en utilisant le modèle de Benbow-Bridgwater. L'influence du dosage en eau, de la composition du ciment, du type de fibres et de leur pourcentage sur le diamètre d'entrée de la filière ainsi que le champ de pression dans la filière est étudiée et reliée à la composition de ces composites cimentaires. Six paramètres rhéologiques dont les seuils de cisaillement, interne et aux interfaces, sont identifiés et comparés pour les différentes compositions. Les composites cimentaires, renforcés de fibres courtes, étudiés présentent une pseudo-plasticité et un comportement rhéofluidifiant. Le dosage en eau, le pourcentage de fibre ainsi que le type de fibre et la composition du ciment, influencent le comportement rhéologique de ces composites cimentaires de différentes manières. Les valeurs numériques obtenues pour les paramètres rhéologiques et tribologiques, tels que les seuils et les contraintes de cisaillement, internes et aux interfaces, sont très encourageantes et permettent de conclure sur la fiabilité de ces résultats expérimentaux.

     

钢筋增强超高韧性水泥基复合材料(RUHTCC)梁弯曲性能影响的几何参数分析

具有超高韧性新型随机PVA短纤维增强的水泥基复合材料(UHTCC)代替传统的具有准脆性应力软化特征的混凝土或纤维混凝土材料制作的钢筋(RUHTCC)受弯梁,可提高承载力,改善构件的延性,并具有良好的损伤演变能力,被认为是一种抗震性能较好的新型构件形式。除了配筋率和UHTCC拉压材料性能外,截面几何尺寸是影响其弯曲性能的一个重要因素。基于受弯理论分析和试验验证,采用该理论公式对截面几何尺寸(截面高度、宽度以及面积)的影响规律进行了系列分析。结果发现:对承载力,梁高度比宽度影响明显,而对承载力提高幅度和变形而言,随梁高的增加而减小,梁宽没有影响;对裂缝控制来说,只要梁下边缘的极限拉应变小于UHTCC材料的极限拉应变,截面尺寸的变化几乎不影响裂缝宽度的大小。并进一步针对RUHTCC梁的受弯设计提出了一些设计建议。     

Impact of natural weathering on medium-term self-healing performance of fiber reinforced cementitious composites with intrinsic crack-width control capability

The paper investigates the medium-term self-healing performance of fiber reinforced cementitious composites with intrinsic crack-width control capability under natural weathering. The pre-cracked specimens with different damage levels are exposed to various humidity conditions, namely, water submersion, natural weathering, and a laboratory environment with constant humidity. The medium-term self-healing performance is evaluated using a resonant frequency test, tensile test, SEM, and EDX. It is concluded that the medium-term cracked specimens can moderately recover their mechanical properties within 90 days after being submerged in water or exposed to natural weathering. In particular, they are able to resume the multiple cracking behavior and exhibit a reloading strength larger than the preloading strength. Furthermore, the identified compositions of the medium-term healing products for specimens exposed to water and natural weathering conditions are similarly characterized. The reported results imply that effective medium-term self-healing can be realized in fiber reinforced cementitious composites with intrinsic crack-width control capability under natural weathering.     

Development of engineered cementitious composites with limestone powder and blast furnace slag

Nowadays limestone powder and blast furnace slag (BFS) are widely used in concrete as blended materials in cement. The replacement of Portland cement by limestone powder and BFS can lower the cost and enhance the greenness of concrete, since the production of these two materials needs less energy and causes less CO₂ emission than Portland cement. Moreover, the use of limestone powder and BFS improves the properties of fresh and hardened concrete, such as workability and durability. Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) is a class of ultra ductile fiber reinforced cementitious composites, characterized by high ductility, tight crack width control and relatively low fiber content. The limestone powder and BFS are used to produce ECC in this research. The mix proportion is designed experimentally by adjusting the amount of limestone powder and BFS, accompanied by four-point bending test and uniaxial tensile test. This study results in an ECC mix proportion with the Portland cement content as low as 15% of powder by weight. This mixture, at 28 days, exhibits a high tensile strain capacity of 3.3%, a tight crack width of 57 μm and a moderate compressive strength of 38 MPa. In order to promote a wide use of ECC, it was tried to simplify the mixing of ECC with only two matrix materials, i.e. BFS cement and limestone powder, instead of three matrix materials. By replacing Portland cement and BFS in the aforementioned ECC mixture with BFS cement, the ECC with BFS cement and limestone powder exhibits a tensile strain capacity of 3.1%, a crack width of 76 μm and a compressive strength of 40 MPa after 28 days of curing.     

Application of fiber reinforced high performance composites in spun-cast elements

Spin casting is an effective method to produce concrete pylons, masts or pipes. Through the centrifugation process the concrete is compacted and the desired shape, mostly round or ellipsoidal, is obtained. The pre-cast elements made using conventional concrete generally have to be reinforced with steel bars which are susceptible to corrosion. Furthermore, the placement of the steel reinforcement is time consuming and hence expensive and leads to rather thick and heavy structural elements. The application of short fiber reinforced cement (FRC) or mortar, as presented in this paper, is a suitable alternative for such weak-loaded bending elements. Special requirements regarding workability and strength have to be considered. Optimization of cement matrix was achieved with a blend of microfine cement and ordinary Portland cement, improving the rheological properties of the fresh mixture and resulting in a very dense cement matrix with excellent mechanical properties. Reinforcement with different kinds of short fibers of carbon and polyvinylalcohol was studied. Flow properties of the FRC were optimized with regard to the centrifugation process applying a new cone-consistency test. The mechanical properties of conventionally cast specimens and of centrifuged prototypes were investigated.     

基于图像处理的纤维分布与取向分布对水泥基材料弯曲性能的影响

聚乙烯醇(PVA)纤维增强水泥基材料的弯曲性能与纤维在水泥基体内的分布和取向分布相关。采用抛光断面后涂荧光粉的显微成像法,基于图像处理程序对PVA纤维在水泥基材料中的分布和取向分布进行量化测定,对不同基体结构特征影响纤维分布的机理进行了讨论。结合弯曲试验结果,研究了纤维分布和取向分布对材料弯曲性能的影响。纤维分布测定结果表明,均匀的基体结构特征利于纤维的分布,同时对于材料组分和加工制作过程完全相同的试件,纤维分布系数越大,试件的弯曲强度与韧性越大;纤维取向分布测定结果表明,乱向分布的纤维当其长度方向与抛光断面方向的角度接近90°分布概率越大,试件的弯曲韧性也越大。     

用交流阻抗法研究碳纤维混凝土导电性

随着水泥基材料的发展 ,人们对水泥基材料提出的更新的要求 ,其中水泥基导电复合材料的研究引起了广泛的兴趣。制备水泥基导电复合材料的方法是在水泥基材料中掺入各种导电组分 ,目前较常用的是掺入碳纤维 ,它不仅可以大幅度提高水泥基复合材料的电导率 ,还能够改善水泥基材料的力学性能、增加其韧性。本研究主要通过对碳纤维混凝土的交流阻抗谱进行分析 ,研究其导电性能与内部微结构的关系。     

纤维增强水泥基复合材料的动力拉伸性能研究

采用分离式霍普金森杆对聚乙烯醇(PVA)纤维增强水泥基复合材料(PRCC)、基体材料、不同相对掺量的钢纤维和PVA纤维混合增强水泥基复合材料(HFRCC)进行了四种不同应变率下的动态劈拉试验,通过对材料的劈拉强度、能量吸收和破坏形态等方面的对比分析,探讨了三种材料的动力拉伸性能,结果表明材料表现出应变率敏感性,随着应变率的提高,动态劈拉强度和能量吸收能力相应增加。HFRCC对基体材料的劈拉强度提高可达到34%,而PRCC材料提高约20%。PVA纤维对材料的耗能能力的影响比钢纤维具有更强的应变率敏感性。钢纤维掺量占总纤维掺量25%的HFRCC材料耗能能力比PRCC略低5%,而钢纤维掺量达到总纤维掺量的62.5%时,HFRCC材料的耗能能力比PRCC的耗能能力显著提高。HFRCC在动态劈拉强度和能量吸收能力方面更加均衡,具有更好抵抗冲击的能力。     

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.     

Improved fiber distribution and mechanical properties of engineered cementitious composites by adjusting the mixing sequence

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) is a class of ultra ductile fiber reinforced cementitious composites, characterized by high ductility and tight crack width control. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber with a diameter of 39 μm and a length of 6-12 mm is often used. Unlike plain concrete and normal fiber reinforced concrete, ECC shows a strain-hardening behavior under tensile load. Apart from the mix design, the fiber distribution is another crucial factor for the mechanical properties of ECC, especially the ductility. In order to obtain a good fiber distribution, the plastic viscosity of the ECC mortar before adding fibers needs to be controlled, for example, by adjusting water-to-powder ratio or chemical admixtures. However, such adjustments have some limitations and may result in poor mechanical properties of ECC. This research explores an innovative approach to improve the fiber distribution by adjusting the mixing sequence. With the standard mixing sequence, fibers are added after all solid and liquid materials are mixed. The undesirable plastic viscosity before the fiber addition may cause poor fiber distribution and results in poor hardened properties. With the adjusted mixing sequence, the mix of solid materials with the liquid material is divided into two steps and the addition of fibers is between the two steps. In this paper, the influence of different water mixing sequences is investigated by comparing the experimental results of the uniaxial tensile test and the fiber distribution analysis. Compared with the standard mixing sequence, the adjusted mixing sequence increases the tensile strain capacity and ultimate tensile strength of ECC and improves the fiber distribution. This concept is further applied in the development of ECC with high volume of sand.     

偶联剂对玻璃纤维增强淀粉/聚乳酸复合材料性能的影响

分别以马来酸酐、KH550、KH560和KH570为偶联剂对玻璃纤维进行预处理,再与淀粉、聚乳酸(PLA)复合,通过熔融挤出法制备玻璃纤维增强淀粉/PLA复合材料。研究了偶联剂种类对玻璃纤维增强复合材料熔融指数、力学性能、热性能和熔融流变性能的影响。实验发现马来酸酐、KH550、KH570、KH560处理玻璃纤维增强淀粉/PLA复合材料的熔融指数和力学性能都依次增大,表明KH560处理玻璃纤维增强淀粉/PLA复合材料的界面黏结作用最强。对热性能进行表征发现,马来酸酐、KH550、KH570、KH560处理玻璃纤维增强淀粉/PLA复合材料玻璃化转变温度、重结晶温度、结晶度和热稳定性均依次提高。受玻璃纤维与淀粉/PLA基体界面黏结效果的影响,马来酸酐、KH550、KH570、KH560处理玻璃纤维增强淀粉/PLA体系的储能模量和复数黏度依次增大。     

先驱体浸渍-裂解法制备SiBN纤维增强SiBN陶瓷基复合材料

连续纤维增强氮化物陶瓷基复合材料是耐高温透波材料的主要发展方向,纤维是目前制约耐高温透波复合材料发展的关键,而SiBN陶瓷纤维是一种兼具耐高温、透波、承载的新型陶瓷纤维。以聚硅氮烷为陶瓷先驱体,以SiBN连续陶瓷纤维为增强体,采用先驱体浸渍-裂解法制备了SiBN陶瓷纤维增强SiBN陶瓷基复合材料,研究了复合材料的热膨胀特性、力学性能、断裂模式以及微观结构。结果表明:SiBN陶瓷纤维增强SiBN陶瓷基复合材料呈现明显的脆性断裂特征,复合材料的弯曲强度和拉伸强度分别为88.52 MPa和6.6 MPa,纤维的力学性能仍有待于提高。     

Effect of hybrid fiber reinforcement on the cracking process in fiber reinforced cementitious composites

The simultaneous use of different types of fibers as reinforcement in cementitious matrix composites is typically motivated by the underlying principle of a multi-scale nature of the cracking processes in fiber reinforced cementitious composites. It has been hypothesized that while undergoing tensile deformations in the composite, the fibers with different geometrical and mechanical properties restrain the propagation and further development of cracking at different scales from the micro- to the macro-scale. The optimized design of the fiber reinforcing systems requires the objective assessment of the contribution of each type of fiber to the overall tensile response. Possible synergistic effects resulting from particular combinations of fibers need to be clearly identified. In the present study, the evaluation of the response of different fiber reinforced cementitious composite materials is carried out by assessing directly their tensile stress-crack opening behavior. The efficiency of hybrid fiber reinforcements and the multi-scale nature of cracking processes are discussed based on the experimental results obtained, as well as the micro-mechanisms underlying the contribution of different fibers to bridge cracks resulting from tensile loading.     

Effect of hybrid fiber reinforcement on the cracking process in fiber reinforced cementitious composites

The simultaneous use of different types of fibers as reinforcement in cementitious matrix composites is typically motivated by the underlying principle of a multi-scale nature of the cracking processes in fiber reinforced cementitious composites. It has been hypothesized that while undergoing tensile deformations in the composite, the fibers with different geometrical and mechanical properties restrain the propagation and further development of cracking at different scales from the micro- to the macro-scale. The optimized design of the fiber reinforcing systems requires the objective assessment of the contribution of each type of fiber to the overall tensile response. Possible synergistic effects resulting from particular combinations of fibers need to be clearly identified. In the present study, the evaluation of the response of different fiber reinforced cementitious composite materials is carried out by assessing directly their tensile stress-crack opening behavior. The efficiency of hybrid fiber reinforcements and the multi-scale nature of cracking processes are discussed based on the experimental results obtained, as well as the micro-mechanisms underlying the contribution of different fibers to bridge cracks resulting from tensile loading.