Title: Performance of Non-Asbestos Fiber Cement Sheeting

Author(s): J. G. Keer

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 124

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 19-38

Keywords: asbestos; cladding; cracking (fracturing); fiberboard; fiber reinforced concretes; performance; polypropylene fibers; standards; polyvinyl alcohol; production methods; Structural Research

DOI: 10.14359/2789

Date: 9/1/1990

Abstract:
The production of a polypropylene-reinforced cement material marketed as an alternative to asbestos-cement is outlined. Typical tensile stress-strain curves of a number of alternative materials are compared with asbestos-cement. The load-deflection characteristics of corrugated sheets made from nonasbestos materials are also presented and discussed. The nonasbestos materials are generally much less brittle than asbestos-cement, although they have a lower first-cracking strength. The pseudo-ductile behavior exhibited, with multiple cracking before the ultimate load is reached, means that permissible loads in service must not be based solely on ultimate loads but on cracking and possible deflection criteria. Less well-defined stresses arising during installation and from restrained moisture movements, which may crack the nonasbestos materials, are likely to be critical for the effective performance of new sheeting materials.