Direct tensile behavior of shape-memory-alloy fiber-reinforced cement composites

We demonstrated the pre-stressing capability of short shape-memory-alloy (SMA) fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (SMA-FRCC) by performing direct tensile tests after heat treatment. Two types of SMA fibers were added by 1.5% volume content in a mortar matrix with 55 MPa compressive strength. After 10 min of heat treatment on the tensile specimens of SMA-FRCCs, the length of specimen was noticeably shortened due to shape-memory effects, which consequently generated pre-stressing effects. Furthermore, heat treatment noticeably increased the Young's modulus of SMA-FRCCs in tension due to shape-memory effects.