Crack Free Concrete Made with Nanofiber Reinforcement. Mechanical Properties and Nanostructure of Cement-Based Materials Reinforced with Carbon Nanofibers and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Microfibers

There have been numerous studies that have aimed at improving the low tensile strength, stiffness, and toughness of cementitious materials. This study aims to show that all of these characteristics can be greatly improved by the addition of ladder scale reinforcement at the nano and micro scale. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as well as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microfibers were used as reinforcement. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated by fracture mechanics three-point bending test. The microstructure and the morphology of nanocomposite samples were studied using an ultra high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results clearly illustrate that the incorporation of nanofibers and microfibers greatly improves the flexural strength, Young’s modulus, and toughness of the cement matrix.

• Record URL:
  • http://iti.northwestern.edu/publications/utc/safetea-lu/FR-3-Shah-Crack_Free_Concrete_Made_With_Nanofiber_Reinforcement.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Northwestern University, Evanston

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  2145 Sheridan Road
  Evanston, IL  United States  60208

  Infrastructure Technology Institute (ITI)

  Northwestern University
  L260 Technological Institute, 2145 Sheridan Road
  Evanston, IL  United States  60208-3109

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mexasa, Zoi S
  • Konsta-Gdoutos, Maria S
  • Shah, Surendra P
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 11p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete; Fiber reinforced concrete; Flexural strength; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Morphology; Nanostructured materials; Toughness; Young's modulus
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bending tests; Carbon nanofibers; Microfibers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Scanning electron microscopy
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01342003
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SP-270—10
• Files: UTC, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 15 2011 4:27PM