Experimental investigation on relations between impact resistance and tensile properties of cement-based materials reinforced by polyvinyl alcohol fibers

Abstract

Cement-based material is brittle and is easily damaged by an impact load with a few blows. The purpose of this paper is to study the relations between the impact resistance and tensile properties of cement-based materials reinforced by polyvinyl alcohol fiber (PVA-FRCM). A drop-weight test and uniaxial tension test were performed. The relations were studied based on the experimental results, including the relation between the blow number and the tensile stress at the first visible cracking (σc) and the relation between the blow number and the tensile strain at the ultimate failure (εf). Results showed that the blow number for the first visible crack for disc impact specimens increases obviously with the increase of σc of slab specimens. The crater diameter and blow number for ultimate failure of the disc specimens increase with the increase of εf of slab specimens. For the PVA-FRCM specimens with larger σc and εf, much more blows are needed to cause both the first visible crack and ultimate failure. Polyvinyl alcohol fibers can reinforce impact resistance and tensile properties of cement-based materials.