Effects of fabric structures on the tensile properties of warp-knitted fabrics used as concrete reinforcements

Abstract

High-performance textiles are now widely used in civil engineering applications. This work explores the differences between the tensile properties of weft inlay warp-knitted fabrics of high-strength glass and carbon rovings as concrete reinforcements. In this study, 12 types of warp-knitted fabrics with different stitch patterns, including tricot, cord, and pillar stitches, were produced. The effect of the stitch type on the tensile properties of the fabrics was examined. The stitch type was found to significantly affect the tensile properties of the warp-knitted fabrics. The results showed that the tensile strength of fabrics with tricot and cord stitches is greater than that of fabrics with the pillar stitch. The increase in tensile strength was 14% for fabrics made of glass roving and 21% for fabrics made of carbon rovings. A similar gradation was observed for the Young’s modulus of the fabrics. The Young’s modulus was 11% and 25% higher for glass and carbon fabrics, respectively. The structural parameters of the warp-knitted fabrics, including the geometry of the stitch pattern and the yarn cross-sectional shape in a fabric that affect the tensile properties, were analyzed.