Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Materials Reinforced with Polyethylene Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes
The cracking of cementitious materials due to their quasi-brittle behavior is a major concern leading to a loss in strength and durability. To limit crack growth, researchers have incorporated microfibers in concrete mixes. The objective of this study is to determine if nano-reinforcements can arres...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Fibers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/1/1 |
| _version_ | 1827372368166649856 |
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| author | Rashad R. AlAraj Adil K. Tamimi Noha M. Hassan Kazi Parvez Fattah |
| author_facet | Rashad R. AlAraj Adil K. Tamimi Noha M. Hassan Kazi Parvez Fattah |
| author_sort | Rashad R. AlAraj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The cracking of cementitious materials due to their quasi-brittle behavior is a major concern leading to a loss in strength and durability. To limit crack growth, researchers have incorporated microfibers in concrete mixes. The objective of this study is to determine if nano-reinforcements can arrest cracks and enhance the material performance in comparison to microfibers. A total of 28 specimens were prepared to investigate and compare the effects of incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a nano-reinforcement and polyethylene (PE) fibers at a macro-level and their combination. Compressive and flexural strengths were experimentally tested to assess the mechanical performance. The microstructure of the mortar samples was also examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The ductility increased by almost 50% upon the addition of CNTs, while no significant enhancement was witnessed for the compressive strength. The flexural strength increased by 169% and the flexural strain by 389% through the addition of the combination of CNTs and PE fibers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:57:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc45432dbc4c464684bfd1579858c38c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:57:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fibers |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc45432dbc4c464684bfd1579858c38c2024-01-26T16:23:58ZengMDPI AGFibers2079-64392023-12-01121110.3390/fib12010001Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Materials Reinforced with Polyethylene Fibers and Carbon NanotubesRashad R. AlAraj0Adil K. Tamimi1Noha M. Hassan2Kazi Parvez Fattah3Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, The American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, The American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab EmiratesEngineering Systems Management, Department of Industrial Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USAThe cracking of cementitious materials due to their quasi-brittle behavior is a major concern leading to a loss in strength and durability. To limit crack growth, researchers have incorporated microfibers in concrete mixes. The objective of this study is to determine if nano-reinforcements can arrest cracks and enhance the material performance in comparison to microfibers. A total of 28 specimens were prepared to investigate and compare the effects of incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a nano-reinforcement and polyethylene (PE) fibers at a macro-level and their combination. Compressive and flexural strengths were experimentally tested to assess the mechanical performance. The microstructure of the mortar samples was also examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The ductility increased by almost 50% upon the addition of CNTs, while no significant enhancement was witnessed for the compressive strength. The flexural strength increased by 169% and the flexural strain by 389% through the addition of the combination of CNTs and PE fibers.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/1/1concretecementitious compositecarbon nanotubespolyethylene fibersmechanical behaviorstrength |
| spellingShingle | Rashad R. AlAraj Adil K. Tamimi Noha M. Hassan Kazi Parvez Fattah Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Materials Reinforced with Polyethylene Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes Fibers concrete cementitious composite carbon nanotubes polyethylene fibers mechanical behavior strength |
| title | Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Materials Reinforced with Polyethylene Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes |
| title_full | Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Materials Reinforced with Polyethylene Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Materials Reinforced with Polyethylene Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Materials Reinforced with Polyethylene Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes |
| title_short | Mechanical Performance of Cementitious Materials Reinforced with Polyethylene Fibers and Carbon Nanotubes |
| title_sort | mechanical performance of cementitious materials reinforced with polyethylene fibers and carbon nanotubes |
| topic | concrete cementitious composite carbon nanotubes polyethylene fibers mechanical behavior strength |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/1/1 |
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