Dynamic single-fiber pull-out of polypropylene fibers produced with different mechanical and surface properties for concrete reinforcement
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
In strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC), polypropylene (PP) fibers are often used to provide ductility through micro crack-bridging, in particular when subjected to high loading rates. For the purposeful material design of SHCC, fundamental research is required to understand the failure mechanisms depending on the mechanical properties of the fibers and the fiber–matrix interaction. Hence, PP fibers with diameters between 10 and 30 µm, differing tensile strength levels and Young’s moduli, but also circular and trilobal cross-sections were produced using melt-spinning equipment. The structural changes induced by the drawing parameters during the spinning process and surface modification by sizing were assessed in single-fiber tensile experiments and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the fiber material. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements were applied to determine the topographical and wetting properties of the fiber surface. The fiber–matrix interaction under quasi-static and dynamic loading was studied in single-fiber pull-out experiments (SFPO). The main findings of microscale characterization showed that increased fiber tensile strength in combination with enhanced mechanical interlocking caused by high surface roughness led to improved energy absorption under dynamic loading. Further enhancement could be observed in the change from a circular to a trilobal fiber cross-section.
Details
Original language | English |
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Article number | 722 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-20 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Materials |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 2 Feb 2021 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Drawing ratio, High strength cementitious matrix, Mechanical properties, Polypropylene fiber, Quasi-static and dynamic loading, Single-fiber pull-out test, Surface roughness