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Optimized Workability and Mechanical Properties of FRCM by using Fiber Factor Approach: Theoretical and Experimental Study
Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions
  • Arezoo Emdadi, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Iman Mehdipour
  • Nicolas Ali Libre, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Mohammad Shekarchi
Abstract

This paper discusses a study on the optimization of mechanical properties of polypropylene fiber reinforced cementitious material (FRCM) through workability control of fresh properties. To this aim, a simple model is proposed herein describing the contact network between fibers inside FRCMs. The suspension was regarded as a two-phase composite in which fibers were suspended in a viscous cement paste. The theoretical framework presented in this paper and confirmed by experiments shows that there is a critical fiber factor above which the workability properties of fibers are mainly affected by the interactions of fibers in suspension. Moreover, there is a dense fiber factor above which the fibers tend to clump and both workability and mechanical properties of fibers significantly degrade. The obtained results show that adequate workability and a properly adjusted fiber factor are keys to obtain proper flexural and tensile strength. The findings in this paper can provide a rational foundation for mix design of FRCM by adjusting the fiber factor as an effective tool to control the workability of FRCM and practically achieve optimal hardened properties.

Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Comments
This work was financially supported by Research Grant from Islamic Azad University, Qazvin Branch, Qazvin, Iran.
Keywords and Phrases
  • Critical fiber factor,
  • Fiber reinforced cementitious materials,
  • Mechanical properties,
  • Optimum fiber factor,
  • Polypropylene fiber,
  • Workability
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2015 Springer Verlag, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
4-1-2015
Publication Date
01 Apr 2015
Citation Information
Arezoo Emdadi, Iman Mehdipour, Nicolas Ali Libre and Mohammad Shekarchi. "Optimized Workability and Mechanical Properties of FRCM by using Fiber Factor Approach: Theoretical and Experimental Study" Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions Vol. 48 Iss. 4 (2015) p. 1149 - 1161 ISSN: 1359-5997; 1871-6873
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/arezoo-emdadi/6/