Strength of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Cement Mortar Composites with Variable Water/Cement Ratio

Abstract:

For cement mortars the reinforcement techniques by randomly distributed short fibers, contribute highly to their micro-cracking stabilization and to improvement of their flexibility and tensile strength. Among the wide different types of short fiber reinforcement that have been used in the past for mortars, those made of steel, polymers and natural fibers dominate the area. It is a common sense that the reinforcement of mortars by polypropylene fibers (PP) is considered a very efficient method for reducing their curing shrinkage and enhanced toughness and strength of un-reinforced cemented material. In this study, PP fiber reinforced mortars were prepared with specific composition but with variable water to cement (W/C) ratio and appropriate superplasticizer amounts. For all mixtures their workability, air content and flexural and compressive strengths were measured. In conclusion it can be stated that even though W/C ratio of mortars is varied considerably, and also do their mechanical response, it is possible by appropriate mixture designing, for all studied compositions to produce suitable mortars that can be used successfully in a wide range of demands and applications, achieving high mortar strengths and ideal workability behavior.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1042)
• Pages: 157-163
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.1042.157
• Online since: August 2021
• Authors: Nikolaos D. Nikoloutsopoulos, Sofia P. Nikolopoulou, Zacharias G. Pandermarakis*
• Keywords: Air Content, Cement Mortar, Compressive Strength, Flexural Strength, Short Polypropylene Fibers, Superplasticizers, W/C Ratio, Workability

References

[1] P. Smarzewski, Comparative Fracture Properties of Four Fibre Reinforced High Performance Cementitious Composites, Materials 13(11), (2020), p.2612.

DOI: 10.3390/ma13112612

[2] M. Saad, V. Sabathier, A. Turatsinze and C. Magniont, Potential of Oleaginous Flax Fibre as Mortar Reinforcement, ICBBM2019, AJCE, Vol. 37(2), (2019), p.pp.263-269.

[3] F. Wu, Q. Yu, C. Liu, H. J. H. Brouwers, L. Wang and D. Liu, Effect of fibre type and content on performance of bio-based concrete containing heat-treated apricot shell, Materials and Structures Vol. 53:137, (2020), p.pp.1-16.

DOI: 10.1617/s11527-020-01570-0

[4] S. Lee, Effect of Nylon Fiber Addition on the Performance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Appl. Sci. Vol.9, (2019), p.767.

[5] Ζ.G. Pandermarakis, Α.Β. Sotiropoulou and N.D. Nikoloutsopoulos, The Influence of Short Glass and Polypropylene Fibers on First Crack Formation and Toughness of Cement Based Composites after their Exposure to Fire Condition, Key Engineering Materials (ΚΕΜ) Vols. 488-489, (2012) p.pp.569-572.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.488-489.569

[6] Ζ.G. Pandermarakis, Α.Β. Sotiropoulou, N.D. Nikoloutsopoulos and D.P. Passa, Experimental Study of Fiber reinforced Mortars that are used in the Restoration of Traditional Buildings, Sustainable Development, Culture, Traditions Journal, Vol.1, (2012) p.pp.15-30.

[7] Ζ.G. Pandermarakis, Α.Β. Sotiropoulou and N.D. Nikoloutsopoulos, Structural integrity breakdown of fiber reinforced cement based composites after their exposure to high temperatures, 1st National Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Materials and Structures, Xanthi, Greece, October 20-23, (2010).

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.123-125.915

[8] A.B. Sotiropoulou, Z.G. Pandermarakis, B. Kanelopoulou and M. Skoulikari, The Effect of Glass and Polypropylene Fibers on the Strength of Reinforced Mortar with Marble Aggregates 1st Panhellenic Conference on Building Materials & Elements, Athens (2008) pp.1421-1431.

[9] A.M. Neville, Properties of concrete, fifth ed., Prentice Hal, Essex, (2011).

[10] P.K. Mehta, P.J.M. Monteiro, Concrete: Microstructure, Properties, and Materials, third ed., McGraw-Hill Professional, New York, (2005).

[11] EN 13139, Aggregates for mortar, (2013).

[12] ASTM C1437, Standard Test Method for Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar (2015).

[13] EN 1015-7, Methods of test for mortar for masonry. Determination of air content of fresh mortar (1999).

DOI: 10.3403/01541437