Cellulose Fiber Reinforced Concrete Fracture Mechanisms and Damage Detection Using Acoustic Emission

Abstract

ASTM C78 standard tests for flexural strength of concrete were conducted on cellulose fiber reinforced concrete (CFRC) specimens using varying percentages of ultimate load. During testing, Acoustic Emission (AE) signals were recorded while after testing, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to visually observe surface features. SEM results appear to illustrate three important stages of the fracture process: cement cracking, fiber-cement debonding, and fiber breakage/pullout. AE results were used to bound ranges for a relationship between AE amplitude and CFRC fracture mechanisms.