Experimental Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of Carbon Fiber Reinforced High Strength Concrete

Abstract

Concrete without reinforcement is brittle which is intensified in high strength concrete. Fibers have been utilized to improve the tensile and bending performance of concrete. Fibers  primarily control the propagation of cracks and limit the crack width. Carbon fiber reinforced concretes are reliable structural materials with superior performance characteristics compared to conventional concrete. The addition of carbon fiber in concrete has been found to improve several properties, primarily cracking resistance, ductility and fatigue life. This paper reports a study on the mechanical and fracture properties of high strength concrete reinforced with different volume fractions of carbon fiber. Four different volume fractions between the range of 0.25% and 1.00% were chosen. Carbon fiber improved the compressive strength, load bearing capacity, fracture energy and toughness of concrete. Fiber volume fraction was more prominent factor in this regard. Fracture parameters showed better performance beyond 0.50% fiber inclusion.