Mechanism of functional responses to loading of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites

Single fiber pull-out testing was conducted to study the origin of the functional responses to loading of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites. The variation of electrical resistance with the bonding force on the fiber-matrix interface was measured. Single fiber electromechanical testing was also conducted by measuring the electrical resistance under static tension. Comparison of the results shows that the resistance increasing during single fiber pull-out is mainly due to the changes at the interface. The conduction mechanism of the composite can be explained by the tunneling model. The interfacial stress causes the deformation of interfacial structure and the interfacial debonding, which have influences on the tunneling effect and result in the change of resistance. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Key Project (No.50238040)