Mechanical behavior of different fiber lengths mix-proportions carbon fiber reinforced concrete subjected to static, impact, and blast loading

Abstract

Impact and blast wave loadings act as high instant energy and might cause damage to reinforced concrete infrastructures. This research aims to investigate the effect of using different length proportions of carbon fiber on the mechanical behaviors of concrete. Moreover, in this study, original carbon fiber and sizing-removed carbon fiber were added into concrete with different mix-proportions. The sizing on the carbon fiber surface was removed by using heat-treated method. In addition, the carbon fiber was dispersed by a high-pressure air compressor. Lengths of 12 mm and 24 mm carbon fibers were used in different mix-proportions to find the highest mechanical strength of carbon fiber reinforced concrete (CFRC) under a 1% fiber-to-cement weight ratio. Compressive, flexural, and impact tests were conducted on CFRC specimens. The CFRC specimen with 50% 12 mm and 50% 24 mm sizing-removed carbon fiber attained the highest impact resistance, and it also had the best performance under blast wave loading compared with the other CFRC specimens. The broken CFRC specimens were examined by an optical microscope to identify the failure mode of the carbon fibers in CFRC specimens. The addition of 50% 12 mm and 50% 24 mm sizing-removed carbon fiber can significantly improve the compressive and flexural strength of reinforced concrete.