Reinforcement effects of polyvinyl alcohol and polypropylene fibers on flexural behaviors of sulfoaluminate cement matrices

The fracture behavior of unoiled/uncoated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber reinforced sulphoaluminate cement (SAC) matrices was experimentally investigated and compared with those of polypropylene (PP) fiber reinforced SAC and PVA fiber reinforced Portland cement (PC) matrices in this study. In the experimental investigation, three-point bending tests were carried out for notched fiber reinforced cement beams. Special attentions were paid on their deflection-hardening and multiple crack patterns. The different flexural behaviors between the plain SAC and PC matrices were evaluated using the double-K fracture model. The results indicate that the PVA fiber reinforced SAC matrices exhibited better flexural behaviors when compared with the PVA fiber reinforced PC matrix having comparable matrix strength. The bond strength between SAC matrix and PVA fiber are relatively better than that between the counterpart PC matrix and PVA fiber, while the bond strength between SAC matrix and PVA fiber is obviously stronger than that between the SAC and PP fibers.