Quantification of the Transversal Fiber Strand Stiffness of Textiles Used in Textile-Reinforced Concrete via Shore Hardness

Abstract

Textile-reinforced concrete is characterized by its high-performance load-bearing behavior. The basis of these properties is largely determined by the characteristics of the textile used. The textile in turn consists of fibers that are bonded together by means of a matrix (impregnation). Both the fiber material and the impregnation significantly influence the tensile and bonding properties of the textile. The performance of the impregnation depends largely on its stiffness. In this publication, the fiber strand stiffness is quantified by means of shore hardness measurements, and the influence of the fiber strand stiffness on the tensile and composite properties is presented. The Shore hardness is a kind of Young’s modulus. The tests can be performed on the end product (manufactured fiber strand) with little effort. The test setup was adapted to determine the Shore hardness on the fiber strand. A comparison between the hardness and tensile strength shows a direct correlation. A dependency can also be identified and described of the bond between the textile and the concrete and the hardness. The investigations shown make quantifying the fiber strand stiffness based on hardness appear reasonable.