Effect of fiber type on the bending and uniaxial tensile propertiesof high-strength high-ductility cementitious composites

To investigate the effect of fiber types on bending and tensile properties of high-strength, high-ductility cementitious composites(HS-HDCCs), ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene(PE)fibers, polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)fibers, and copper-plated micro steel fibers were selected as the reinforcement materials. The bending and tensile properties of HS-HDCCs with different fibers with a volume fraction of 2% were studied. The results indicate that PE, PVA, micro steel, and PVA-PE hybrid fibers impart varying degrees of toughening and improve the tensile strength. During the tensile and bending processes, HS-HDCCs with micro steel fibers exhibit a strain-softening phenomenon. HS-HDCCs with PVA fibers or with PVA-PE hybrid fibers can achieve multiple cracking behaviors and strain hardening phenomenon to a certain extent and show slight high-ductility characteristics. HS-HDCCs with PE fibers exhibit multiple cracking behavior and strain hardening phenomenon and show significant high-ductility characteristics. The test results can provide a basis for selecting fibers suitable for HS-HDCCs reinforcement.