Durability and mechanical properties of nanocomposite fiber reinforced concrete

Bartolomeo Coppola, Paola Scarfato, Loredana Incarnato, Luciano Di Maio

Abstract


In this study we investigated the influence of polypropylene/organoclay fibers on durability and mechanical behaviour of concrete. Pure polypropylene fibers and polypropylene nanocomposite fibers of two different lengths (20 and 60 mm) have been mixed in concrete at two volume fractions (0.1% and 0.3%). Nanoclay addition increases fibers elastic modulus (about 27%) reducing ductility. Workability of concrete is greatly influenced by fibers length and volume fraction: increasing these two values workability decreases. Fibers are not influent on compressive and flexural strength while post-cracking toughness is increased. Nanocomposite fibers have a better pull-out strength due to a better friction during slipping, but this doesn’t ensure a better adhesion. Water absorption, freeze/thaw cycles and sulfate attack test demonstrate that increasing fibers volume fraction, durability of concrete increases.

Keywords


Durability; Mortar; Fiber; Nanocomposite

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12896/cse20140020031

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CSE Journal - City Safety Energy is a semiannual journal (Two ISSUES per Year) published by Le Penseur in Brienza (PZ) - Italy | ISSN print edition 2283-8767 | ISSN online edition 2284-3418 - Journal registerd at the Court of Potenza (Italy) n. 219/2014