Effect of Carbon and Steel Fibers on the Strength Properties and Electrical Conductivity of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortar

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This paper shows an investigation on the effect of carbon and steel fibers on the strength properties, and electrical conductivity of fiber-reinforced cement mortar. This topic is interesting, and this paper can be considered after minor revision. The following comments should be addressed in the revised manuscript.

(1) The research background of this research should be highlighted at the head of the abstract.

(2) The author should give an introduction on the fundamental characteristics of cement mortar, and the following one reference may be helpful “Characterization of sustainable mortar containing high-quality recycled manufactured sand crushed from recycled coarse aggregate” (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104629)

(3) The shortage of the previous investigations and the innovation of this study should be clear in the introduction section.

(4) Many studies on the properties of mortar with carbon and steel fibers have been conducted by related literatures, and thus, the author should compare the finding in this work and related references.

(5) Whether some quantitative fitting data (such as liner fitting) can be given in Figs. 5 and 7-9 ?

(6) Fig. 13 is not clear, and it should be replaced with clear one.

Author Response

        

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

Author Response

         

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors utilized carbon and steel fibers to investigate strength and electrical conductivity of fiber reinforced cement mortar. The paper is generally good but it needs improvement. Followings should be carried out before acceptance:

The abstract should contain important results of the study.

The authors used FRP for cement but they did not mention about composite materials. The authors are required to mention the importance of the use of FRP s using followings: influence of heat–cool cyclic exposure on the performance of fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete; buckling analysis of CNT-reinforced polymer composite beam using experimental and analytical methods; effects of stirrup spacing on shear performance of hybrid composite beams produced by pultruded GFRP profile infilled with reinforced concrete; the effects of eccentric web openings on the compressive performance of pultruded GFRP boxes wrapped with GFRP and CFRP sheets; compressive behavior of pultruded GFRP boxes with concentric openings strengthened by different composite wrappings

Add sieve analysis results

What is chemical properties of cement

Novelty is not clear. Very same studies are already exists. What is the difference?

The reason for selecting design mixture should be added.

Compare your results with existing studies

Add photos for test setup?

There are other types of steel fibers utilized in concrete. The authors should give related information using followings:  provement in bending performance of reinforced concrete beams produced with waste lathe scraps; performance assessment of fiber-reinforced concrete produced with waste lathe fibers; performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced concretes produced with steel fibers extracted from waste tire; performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced concretes produced with steel fibers extracted from waste tire; experimental and numerical investigations of steel fiber reinforced concrete dapped-end purlins; buckling performance of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer profiles infilled with waste steel fiber reinforced concrete under axial compression

Please add damaged photos damaged photos of samples

Add some summary for conclucision

Add recent studies on this subject to introduction. There are many studies on the introduction for this topic.

Conclusion should be improved. The recommendation consdiering all test should be given for engineers.

Author Response

             

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

In this manuscript, the authors investigated the effect of the developed conductive fiber-reinforced cement mortar containing carbon and steel fibers on the fresh and mechanical properties as well as electrical conductivity. The use of English is satisfactory and the article can be followed easily. The objective is well defined and I have no criticisms regarding the interpretation of results. However, I think that the article is not ready for publication as it stands. The questions are as follows:

1. In the introduction, you need to connect the state of the art to your paper goals. Currently, this is not performed in a convincing way. Please follow the literature review by a clear and concise state of the art analysis. This should clearly show the knowledge gaps identified and link them to your paper goals. Please reason both the novelty and the relevance of your paper goals.

2. Page 1 line 41 [3-8]: There is a suspicion of superfluous quotes here, which should be discussed point by point, not in a series of quotes. Please modify.

3. There are many types of steel fibers. Why is the hooked-end steel fiber used in Table 5? Is it any special than other types of steel fibers?

4. Before proceeding to describe your experiment, materials and actions, please describe your scientific hypothesis, concepts and the relevant reasoning for choosing the particular modelling approach. This should be accompanied by an overall description of the followed procedure.

5. The physical properties of fine aggregate have a great influence on the performance of concrete, and the clay content index is missing in Table 3. Is the particle size of fine aggregate all greater than 2mm? In this case the fineness modulus is only 2.4? Have a big doubt about this, please explain. And provide the grading data of fine aggregate.

6. Page 9 figure 4: Please provide a clearer picture, it looks very difficult at present.

7. Please improve the clarity of Figure 13.

8. Too many conclusions, please simplify.

9. Page 9 section 3.1: figure 5 to 10 should be merged.

10. I think experimental data should be shown in the corresponding Figure as well as fitting model. How many runs does the experimental procedure consist of ?

11. The novelty of this work is fair. However, a quick search reveals that this study does not differ significantly from other publications that were published by the authors. The authors are asked to show their original contribution in this field in a more convincing way.

12.  Please review references format.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

            

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

 

The authors did not proporly addressed the revision

 

Answer 1 is not a result. It is already known fact

Answer 4. It is not chemical properties

Answer 5. Novelty is still not clear

Answer 6 It is not adequate also. 

Answer 9. The response is not revelant. See the suggested ones.

 

Author Response

        

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

• The quality of the article has been improved.

Author Response

Thank you very much for your appropriate comments regarding to submission of this article.