Title: V-Fracture Properties of Polyester Polymer Concrete With Chopped Graphite Fibers

Author(s): J. Cao and C. Vipulanandan

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 201

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 243-266

Keywords: fracture properties; flexural strength; graphite fibers; modulus; nondestructive tests; polymer concrete

DOI: 10.14359/10768

Date: 7/1/2001

Abstract:
Behavior of polyester polymer concrete (PC) with and without notch and graphite fiber was investigated using nondestructive and destructive testing techniques. The flexural strength of polyester PC was 14 MPa (2,000 psi). The effect of up to 6% chopped graphite fibers on the elastic modulus, shear modulus. Poisson’s ratio, flexural strength and fracture parameters were investigated. Nondestructive methods such as impact resonance and pulse velocity were used to determine the effect of notch depth on the mechanical and damping properties of PC. Fracture parameters, critical stress intensity factor Ktc and critical Jtc-integral were determined using single edge notched beam loaded in four-point bending by varying the initial notch-to-depth ratio from 0.2 to 0.7. By measuring the crack mouth openin g displacement (CMOD) during loading, the crack extension in the test specimen was determined. The critical stress intensity factor and critical J-integral for the polyester PC were 1.3 MN/m’ and 0.27 kN/m respectively. The addition of 6 mm long 6% chopped graphite fibers to the polyester polymer concrete improved the tlexural strength by 20% and Ktc and Jtc by over 25% and 125% respectively. Impact resonance test results were sensitive to the notch-to-depth ratio in the test specimen.