High Durability Glass-Fiber Reinforced Modified Cementitious Matrix

Abstract

AbstractIn AR-GFRC growth of hydration products around the filaments plays a dominant role in inducing embrittlement of the fibers and loss of toughness of the composites.The purpose of this paper is to present the way to limit the anchorage of the fibers in the matrix and to obtain a long term flexural strength of 30 MPa and an ultimate strain of 0,7 %. The improvement of the matrix is obtained by using selected metakaolinites and acrylic polymers in order to optimize the nature of the hydrates in the interface between the fibers and the matrix.The mecanical properties and durability behaviours are reviewed using three accelerated ageing tests based on warm water, wet-dry cycles and freeze-thaw cycles. The toughness indices proposed by Shah, Ludirdja and Daniel [12] are calculated, pointing out the improvements of toughness and durability of the new V~trotex-Saint-Gobain AR-GFRC system.