Mechanical response and shrinkage performance of cementitious composites with a new fiber hybridization

• A new kind of fiber hybridization was designed.
• Mechanical response and shrinkage performance were presented.
• Good mechanical response and satisfactory shrinkage performance were achieved.
• Using CaCO3 whiskers can reduce the cost of fiber reinforced cementitious composites.

A new kind of fiber hybridization containing steel fibers, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers and cheap calcium carbonate (CaCO3) whiskers (approximately $230 per ton) was designed to improve the mechanical response and shrinkage performance as well as reduce the production cost of fiber reinforced cementitious composites. Compressive response, flexural response, drying shrinkage and plastic shrinkage of this designed hybrid fiber reinforced composites were presented. The results indicated that the designed hybrid fiber shows a significant positive hybrid effect on mechanical response and plastic shrinkage of cementitious composites. Steel fibers are more effective in restricting drying shrinkage. PVA fibers and CaCO3 whiskers are more effective in restraining plastic shrinkage. Good mechanical response and satisfactory shrinkage performance of the designed hybrid fiber reinforced cementitious composites make it possible to partly replace the steel fibers and PVA fibers by using CaCO3 whisker, thus helping to decrease the production cost of fiber reinforced cementitious composites for large scale construction project applications in the future.