Performance of RC beams developed with ECC layer and AR glass fiber mesh under flexural loading

ABSTRACT

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is an innovative technology increasingly utilized for various applications involving thin concrete composite panels. This experimental study investigates the use of fly ash as a supplementary cementitious material in the production of cementitious mortar, enhanced by the addition of 20% silica fume by weight of cement to improve compressive strength. The research incorporates fibers of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), basalt, and polyester with varying volume fractions into the composites to mitigate cracking in the concrete. Additionally, Alkali-Resistant glass fiber mesh was integrated into the cementitious composites in varying layers to create thin TRC laminates. Specimens were cast and tested to determine their compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths. The study identified the optimal fiber volume fraction for hybrid fibers, with PVA fiber at 2% demonstrating superior performance due to its excellent tensile strength and high modulus of elasticity, making it the reference mix. Hybridization with basalt and polyester fibers at different volume fractions was also explored. Results indicated that increasing fiber content and the number of layers significantly enhanced the strength, toughness, and energy absorption of the composite elements. Increasing of fiber volume fraction in terms of mesh, give much improvement in the matrix.

Keywords:
ECC; PVA fiber; Polyester fiber; Basalt fiber; AR Glass fiber mesh; Mechanical properties