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Mechanical behavior of cement-based materials reinforced with sisal fibers

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Abstract

Fiber-reinforced cement composites were produced in Brazil using blast furnace slag cement reinforced with pulped fibers of sisal originated from agricultural by-products. Thin pads were produced by slurring the raw materials in water, followed by de-watering and pressing stages. Studies of mechanical behavior included observations of stable crack growth behavior under monotonic loading (resistance-curve behavior), followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the fracture surfaces. Reinforcement with cellulose fibers resulted in improved fracture toughness, even after 9 months in laboratory environment. Microscopic analysis indicated a considerable incidence of crack bridging and fiber pull-out in the composite. The shielding contributions from crack bridging are estimated using a fracture mechanics model, before comparing with the measured resistance-curve behavior.

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Acknowledgments

The research is supported by the Materials Division of the National Science Foundation (Grant Number DMR 0231418 and DMR 0303492). The authors are grateful to Dr. Carmen Huber of NSF for her encouragement. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Victor Odunsi for his support. Appreciation is extended to Dr. Marie Ange Arsène and to Mr. Jun Lou for useful discussions, and their help on the bridging models. The first author also express his gratitude to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Co-ordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) for their support, and to Mr. Leandro Cunha and Mr. Paulo Silva for their skilful assistance at the Laboratory of Rural Construction of University of São Paulo, Brazil. Finally, the authors would like to thank Dr. Seyed Allameh for assistance with scanning electron microscopy techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rural Construction Group, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, C.P. 23, 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil

    H. Jr Savastano

  2. Princeton Materials Institute and The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, D404 E.-Quad., Olden Street, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA

    A. Turner, C. Mercer & W. O. Soboyejo

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  1. H. Jr Savastano
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  2. A. Turner
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  3. C. Mercer
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  4. W. O. Soboyejo
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Correspondence to W. O. Soboyejo.

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Jr Savastano, H., Turner, A., Mercer, C. et al. Mechanical behavior of cement-based materials reinforced with sisal fibers. J Mater Sci 41, 6938–6948 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0218-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0218-1

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