Experimental Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites

High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) are basically integrated with two main components including fiber and mortar. These two ingredients are interactively affected due to interfacial bonding which develop a strong composite. HPFRCCs are specific kinds of Fiber Reinforced cementitious composites which can undergo strain hardening behavior after initial cracks. In the present study, it is aimed to understand the strain hardening behavior of HPFRCCs under uniaxial compression, four-point flexural loads and pure shear. The types of fibers and loading path are the effective parameters in this study. Three types of fibers including Hooked end steel fibers, wavy steel fibers and Poly propylene fibers have been solely used or compounded 1.5% by volume of fibers in mortar mixtures. Different mix ratios have been evaluated to achieve the acceptable strain hardening behavior and the best mix ratio has been introduced. Uniaxial compression, four-point flexural loads and pure shear have been chosen as loading paths. The four-point flexural tests on splitless prisms and direct shear tests on split specimens (to decrease the non-optional failure cross section) have been applied. The test results have been more evaluated to assess the effects of types of fibers on shear and flexural toughness and ductility under compression. It is revealed that the mechanical properties of HPFRCCs have been considerably enhanced rather than normal concretes. HPFRCCs can be applied as an appropriate technique to restrain the reinforcement congestion, decrease the high value of transverse reinforcements at beam-column joints and also improve the shear capacity and ductility of the members.