Fibers in Concrete Construction: Material Behavior, Design and Strengthening II

A special issue of Fibers (ISSN 2079-6439).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 7768

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Guest Editor
Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2051, USA
Interests: performance based design of RC structures; static and dynamic testing of RC structures and sub-assemblages; seismic retrofitting of structures with innovative techniques; seismic behavior of cast-in and post-installed anchors in concrete; anchorages with supplementary reinforcement; numerical modeling of structures under seismic loads; modeling of anchorages for interaction between structure and equipment; impact behavior of reinforced concrete structures; fracture mechanics of concrete structures; modeling of bond between reinforcement and concrete; performance of RC structures subjected to fire loads; structural applications of new concrete based materials
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metallic, synthetic or natural fibers are frequently used in concrete construction, either to improve material behavior under normal or extreme loads or for the strengthening of structures. The addition of steel fibers in concrete is known to improve its mechanical properties, such as its strength, fracture energy, toughness, etc. Addition of polypropylene fibers can prevent explosive spalling of high-strength concrete during exposure to fire. Similarly, fibers made of carbon, aramid, glass, lead, etc. have been investigated by researchers in order to alter the properties of concrete. Hybridizing the fibers may improve different properties of concrete. Significant research is currently being carried out to characterize the material behavior of concrete with added fibers under different loading conditions. To utilize the improved material behavior, new design rules are required that can utilize the enhanced potential of the fiber-reinforced concrete, while maintaining a high degree of safety. Due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) are often used to strengthen concrete structures in various kinds of loading scenarios. Several studies have shown the potential of FRP in strengthening structural elements; however, several issues and applications are still open for research. Good numerical and analytical methods, as well as design rules, are required to understand and design a suitable FRP for the strengthening of structural elements.

This Special Issue focuses on the various applications of fibers in concrete construction, with respect to the material’s behavior, design issues and strengthening solutions. I would like to invite researchers to submit their latest research findings in high-quality journal papers in the field of fibers in concrete construction for the benefit of researchers, engineers, industry and students.

Dr. Akanshu Sharma
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fibers
  • fiber-reinforced polymers
  • reinforced concrete structures
  • strengthening
  • material behavior
  • structural design
  • numerical modeling
  • experimental methods

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4322 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortar
by Yeou-Fong Li, Pei-Jen Tsai, Jin-Yuan Syu, Man-Hoi Lok and Huei-Shiung Chen
Fibers 2023, 11(12), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11120109 - 11 Dec 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2616
Abstract
The 3D printing process is different from traditional construction methods of formwork casting due to the use of additive manufacturing. This study develops a suitable 3D-printed carbon fiber-reinforced cement mortar (CFRCM) considering the extrudability, fluidity, setting time, and buildability of the CFRCM. The [...] Read more.
The 3D printing process is different from traditional construction methods of formwork casting due to the use of additive manufacturing. This study develops a suitable 3D-printed carbon fiber-reinforced cement mortar (CFRCM) considering the extrudability, fluidity, setting time, and buildability of the CFRCM. The difference in compressive strength and flexural strength between 3D-printed specimens and conventional cast specimens was investigated by varying the amount of carbon fiber added (carbon fiber to cement ratio, 2.5 vol.‰, 5 vol.‰, 7.5 vol.‰, and 10 vol.‰) and the curing times (7th day and 28th day). The results of the experiments indicate that the addition of 6 wt.% cement accelerators to the cementitious mortar allows for a controlled initial setting time of approximately half an hour. The fluidity of the CFRCM was controlled by adjusting the dosage of the superplasticizer. When the slump was in the range of 150 mm to 190 mm, the carbon fiber to cement ratio 2.5 vol.‰ could be incorporated into the cementitious mortar, enabling the printing of hollow cylinders with a height of up to 750 mm. Comparing the 3D-printed specimens with the traditionally cast specimens, it was found that the addition of a carbon fiber to cement ratio of 7.5 vol.‰, and 10 vol.‰ resulted in the optimal compressive strength and flexural strength, respectively. Full article
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19 pages, 3132 KiB  
Article
Shear Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Engineered Cementitious Composites and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Sheets
by Mohamed Emara, Mohamed A. Salem, Heba A. Mohamed, Hamdy A. Shehab and Ayman El-Zohairy
Fibers 2023, 11(11), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11110098 - 14 Nov 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2355
Abstract
This study evaluates the performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams enhanced in shear using Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs) and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs). The experimental study encompasses fifteen RC beams. This set includes one control specimen and fourteen beams fortified in shear with [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams enhanced in shear using Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs) and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs). The experimental study encompasses fifteen RC beams. This set includes one control specimen and fourteen beams fortified in shear with Externally Bonded (EB) composites. Two of these specimens were enhanced with ECC layers, while the remaining were augmented with combined CFRP-ECC layers. Variables in the test included the ECC layer thickness, matrix type, number of CFRP layers, and strengthening configurations such as full wrapping, vertical strips, and inclined strips. The results indicated that the shear capacity of the fortified beams increased by 61.1% to 160.1% compared to the control specimen. The most effective structural performance was observed in the full wrapping method, which utilized a single CFRP layer combined with either 20 mm or 40 mm ECC thickness, outperforming other techniques. However, the inclined strip method demonstrated a notably higher load-bearing capacity than the full wrapping approach for beams with double CFRP layers paired with 20 mm and 40 mm ECC thicknesses. This configuration also exhibited superior ductility compared to the rest. Furthermore, the experimental shear capacities obtained were juxtaposed with theoretical values from prevailing design standards. Full article
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21 pages, 1739 KiB  
Article
Thin-Layer Fibre-Reinforced Concrete Sandwich Walls: Numerical Evaluation
by Ulvis Skadiņš, Kristens Kuļevskis, Andris Vulāns and Raitis Brencis
Fibers 2023, 11(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020019 - 9 Feb 2023
Viewed by 2163
Abstract
In this study, structural thin-layer sandwich walls (SWs) made of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) without conventional reinforcements were investigated. Other researchers have shown that SWs with thin wythes can be used as load bearing structures in low-rise buildings, thereby reducing the amount of concrete [...] Read more.
In this study, structural thin-layer sandwich walls (SWs) made of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) without conventional reinforcements were investigated. Other researchers have shown that SWs with thin wythes can be used as load bearing structures in low-rise buildings, thereby reducing the amount of concrete by 2–5 times if compared to conventional reinforced-concrete SWs. In most studies, relatively warm climatic regions are the focus, and thin-layer SWs with shear connectors to obtain a certain level of composite action are investigated. In almost no studies has sound insulation been evaluated. In this study, a numerical investigation of structural, thermal and sound insulation performances was carried out. The load-bearing capacities of composite and non-composite SWs are compared. Regions with the lowest five-day mean air temperature of −20 C were considered. The characteristics of the SW are compared to the requirements given in relevant European and Latvian standards. The minimum thermal insulation for family houses varies from 120 mm to 200 mm, depending on the material. To ensure sufficient sound insulation, the average thickness of the concrete wythes should be around 60 mm, preferably with a 15 mm difference between them. Structural analysis of the proposed wall panel was performed using non-linear finite element analysis software ATENA Science. The obtained load-bearing capacity exceeded the design loads of a single-story family house by around 100 times, regardless of the degree of composite action. Full article
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