Title:
Multiscale Nanofiber-Reinforced Concrete for Enhancing Intrinsic Tensile Strength
Author(s):
S.H. Chu
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
122
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
3-14
Keywords:
fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC); intrinsic; microfiber (MF); nanofiber (NF); synergy; tensile
DOI:
10.14359/51746710
Date:
5/1/2025
Abstract:
The weakness of concrete in tension can be mitigated by
developing fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) to induce pseudoductility. However, enhancing the intrinsic tensile strength of the matrix in FRC has received little attention. In this regard, nanofibers, which can improve the intrinsic tensile properties of the
matrix, were used in conjunction with microfibers to enhance
intrinsic tensile strength. Different volumes of nanofibers (0.0 to
0.6%) and microfibers (0.0 to 2.0%) were tested, and various fresh
and hardened properties were analyzed. Test results show that the
high-range water-reducing admixture dosage increased with both
nanofiber and microfiber volume and that strength increased with
microfiber volume, reaching an optimum point at a certain nanofiber
dosage. Moreover, incorporating nanofibers and microfibers
to develop multiscale FRC (MSFRC) significantly improved direct
tensile strength and energy absorption. The synergy between nanofibers and microfibers was revealed both qualitatively and quantitatively, contributing to the advancement of FRC.
Related References:
1. Gopalaratnam, V. S.; Shah, S. P.; Batson, G. B.; Criswell, M. E.; Ramakrishnan, V.; and Wecharatana, M., “Fracture Toughness of Fiber Reinforced Concrete,” ACI Materials Journal, V. 88, No. 4, July-Aug. 1991, pp. 339-353.
2. Li, J.; Weng, J.; and Yang, E. H., “Stochastic Model of Tensile Behavior of Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCCs),” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 124, Oct. 2019, Article No. 105856.
3. Boulekbache, B.; Hamrat, M.; Chemrouk, M.; and Amziane, S., “Flexural Behaviour of Steel Fibre-Reinforced Concrete Under Cyclic Loading,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 126, Nov. 2016, pp. 253-262.
4. Chu, S. H.; Li, L. G.; and Kwan, A. K. H., “Fibre Factors Governing the Fresh and Hardened Properties of Steel FRC,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 186, Oct. 2018, pp. 1228-1238.
5. Chu, S. H., and Kwan, A. K. H., “A New Method for Pull Out Test of Reinforcing Bars in Plain and Fibre Reinforced Concrete,” Engineering Structures, V. 164, June 2018, pp. 82-91.
6. Chu, S. H., and Kwan, A. K. H., “A New Bond Model for Reinforcing Bars in Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 104, Nov. 2019, Article No. 103405.
7. Kwan, A. K. H., and Chu, S. H., “Direct Tension Behaviour of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete Measured by a New Test Method,” Engineering Structures, V. 176, Dec. 2018, pp. 324-336.
8. Leung, C. K. Y.; Zhang, X.; and Xia, Q., “The Application of Pseudo-
Ductile Cementitious Composites in the Anchorage Zone of Post-Tensioned Concrete Members,” Materials and Structures, V. 42, No. 9, Nov. 2009, pp. 1221-1231.
9. Yoo, D.-Y.; Yoon, Y-S.; and Banthia, N., “Predicting the Post-Cracking Behavior of Normal- and High-Strength Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Beams,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 93, Sept. 2015, pp. 477-485.
10. Zhang, D.; Yu, J.; Wu, H.; Jaworska, B.; Ellis, B. R.; and Li, V. C., “Discontinuous Micro-Fibers as Intrinsic Reinforcement for Ductile Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC),” Composites Part B: Engineering, V. 184, Mar. 2020, Article No. 107741.
11. Teng, L.; Zhu, J.; Khayat, K. H.; and Liu, J., “Effect of Welan Gum and Nanoclay on Thixotropy of UHPC,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 138, Dec. 2020, Article No. 106238.
12. Muhd Norhasri, M. S.; Hamidah, M. S.; and Mohd Fadzil, A., “Inclusion of Nano Metaclayed as Additive in Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC),” Construction and Building Materials, V. 201, Mar. 2019, pp. 590-598.
13. Arunothayan, A. R.; Nematollahi, B.; Khayat, K. H.; Ramesh, A.; and Sanjayan, J. G., “Rheological Characterization of Ultra-High Performance Concrete for 3D Printing,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 136, Feb. 2023, Article No. 104854.
14. Muhd Norhasri, M. S.; Hamidah, M. S.; Mohd Fadzil, A.; and Mohd Faizal, M. J., “Characteristic and Strength Properties of Nano Metaclayed UHPC,” InCIEC 2015: Proceedings of the International Civil and Infrastructure Engineering Conference, M. Yusoff, N. H. A. Hamid, M. F. Arshad, A. K. Arshad, A. R. M. Ridzuan, and H. Awang, eds., Springer, Singapore, 2016, pp. 689-697.
15. Irshidat, M. R., and Al-Saleh, M. H., “Thermal Performance and Fire Resistance of Nanoclay Modified Cementitious Materials,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 159, Jan. 2018, pp. 213-219.
16. Mohd Faizal, M. J.; Hamidah, M. S.; and Muhd Norhasri, M. S., “Strength and Chloride Content of Nanoclayed Ultra-High Performance Concrete,” Proceeding on Structure, Materials and Construction Engineering Conference (CONS ENG’14), Istanbul, Turkey, 2014, pp. 99-111.
17. Mohd Faizal, M. J.; Hamidah, M. S.; Muhd Norhasri, M. S.; Noorli, I.; and Mohamad Ezad Hafez, M. P., “Chloride Permeability of Nanoclayed Ultra-High Performance Concrete,” InCIEC 2014: Proceedings of the International Civil and Infrastructure Engineering Conference 2014, R. Hassan, M. Yusoff, A. Alisibramulisi, N. M. Amin, and Z. Ismail, eds., Springer, Singapore, 2015, pp. 613-623.
18. Mohd Faizal, M. J.; Hamidah, M. S.; Muhd Norhasri, M. S.; and Noorli, I., “Effect of Clay as a Nanomaterial on Corrosion Potential of Steel Reinforcement Embedded in Ultra-High Performance Concrete,” InCIEC 2015: Proceedings of the International Civil and Infrastructure Engineering Conference, M. Yusoff, N. H. A. Hamid, M. F. Arshad, A. K. Arshad, A. R. M. Ridzuan, and H. Awang, eds., Springer, Singapore, 2016, pp. 679-687.
19. Hamed, N.; El-Feky, M. S.; Kohail, M.; and Nasr, E.-S. A. R., “Effect of Nano-Clay De-agglomeration on Mechanical Properties of Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 205, Apr. 2019, pp. 245-256.
20. Morsy, M. S.; Alsayed, S. H.; and Aqel, M., “Hybrid Effect of Carbon Nanotube and Nano-Clay on Physico-Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortar,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 25, No. 1, Jan. 2011, pp. 145-149.
21. Yoo, D.-Y.; Oh, T.; and Banthia, N., “Nanomaterials in Ultra-High-
Performance Concrete (UHPC) – A Review,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 134, Nov. 2022, Article No. 104730.
22. Wille, K.; El-Tawil, S.; and Naaman, A. E., “Properties of Strain Hardening Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC) Under Direct Tensile Loading,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 48, Apr. 2014, pp. 53-66.
23. Chu, A. S. H., “Volume-Based Concrete Mixture Design,” ACI Materials Journal, V. 120, No. 1, Jan. 2023, pp. 243-255.
24. Chu, S. H.; Ye, H.; Huang, L.; and Li, L. G., “Carbon Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer (FRG) Mix Design Based on Liquid Film Thickness,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 269, Feb. 2021, Article No. 121278.
25. Chu, S. H., and Kwan, A. K. H., “Co-addition of Metakaolin and Silica Fume in Mortar: Effects and Advantages,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 197, Feb. 2019, pp. 716-724.
26. EN 1015-11/A1:2019, “Methods of Test for Mortar for Masonry - Part 11: Determination of Flexural and Compressive Strength of Hardened Mortar,” European Committee for Standardization, Brussels, Belgium, 2019.
27. Boughanem, S.; Jesson, D. A.; Mulheron, M. J.; Smith, P. A.; Eddie, C.; Psomas, S.; and Rimes, M., “Tensile Characterisation of Thick Sections of Engineered Cement Composite (ECC) Materials,” Journal of Materials Science, V. 50, No. 2, Jan. 2015, pp. 882-897.
28. Chu, S. H.; Yang, E. H.; and Unluer, C., “Development of Nanofiber Reinforced Reactive Magnesia-Based Composites for 3D Printing,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 366, Feb. 2023, Article No. 130270.
29. Shafieifar, M.; Farzad, M.; and Azizinamini, A., “Experimental and Numerical Study on Mechanical Properties of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC),” Construction and Building Materials, V. 156, Dec. 2017, pp. 402-411.
30. Song, P. S., and Hwang, S., “Mechanical Properties of High-Strength Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 18, No. 9, Nov. 2004, pp. 669-673.
31. Chu, S. H.; Lam, W. L.; Li, L.; and Poon, C. S., “Packing Density of Ternary Cementitious Particles Based on Wet Packing Method,” Powder Technology, V. 405, June 2022, Article No. 117493.
32. Chu, S. H.; Jiang, Y.; and Kwan, A. K. H., “Effect of Rigid Fibres on Aggregate Packing,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 224, Nov. 2019, pp. 326-335.
33. Chu, S. H.; Khan, M.; Deng, X.; and Unluer, C., “Bio-Inspired Self-Prestressing Concrete (SPC) Involving Basalt Fibers and Expansive Agent,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 155, May 2022, Article No. 106735.
34. Li, V. C., and Wu, H.-C., “Conditions for Pseudo Strain-Hardening in Fiber Reinforced Brittle Matrix Composites,” Applied Mechanics Reviews, V. 45, No. 8, Aug. 1992, pp. 390-398.
35. Rodriguez, A. J.; Guzman, M. E.; Lim, C.-S.; and Minaie, B., “Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanofiber/Fiber-Reinforced Hierarchical Polymer Composites Manufactured with Multiscale-Reinforcement Fabrics,” Carbon, V. 49, No. 3, Mar. 2011, pp. 937-948.
36. Martins, A.; Pinho, E. D.; Correlo, V. M.; Faria, S.; Marques, A. P.; Reis, R. L.; and Neves, N. M., “Biodegradable Nanofibers-Reinforced Microfibrous Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering,” Tissue Engineering Part A, V. 16, No. 12, Dec. 2010, pp. 3599-3609.
37. Bandelt, M. J.; Frank, T. E.; Lepech, M. D.; and Billington, S. L., “Bond Behavior and Interface Modeling of Reinforced High-Performance
Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 83, Oct. 2017, pp. 188-201.