Title:
Influence of Type of Fibers on Fresh and Hardened Properties of Three-Dimensional-Printed Cementitious Mortars
Author(s):
Yu Wang, Fabian B. Rodriguez, Jan Olek, Pablo D. Zavattieri, and Jeffrey P. Youngblood
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
121
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
31-40
Keywords:
fiber-reinforced cementitious composite; fiber orientation; mechanical performance; three-dimensional printing (3DP) of mortar
DOI:
10.14359/51740263
Date:
4/1/2024
Abstract:
Reinforcing strategies for three-dimensional printing (3DP) of
cementitious materials (mostly mortars) have been extensively
studied in recent years. Among various reinforcement strategies
available for 3DP of cementitious materials, the use of fibers is
frequently mentioned as a promising approach to enhance their
mechanical performance. This work aims to evaluate the influence
of four types of fibers (polyvinyl alcohol [PVA], nylon, rayon, and
basalt) on the flowability and flexural strength of mortars used in
3DP. The flexural behavior of 3DP beams was compared with that
of cast specimens, and the digital image correlation (DIC) technique
was used to evaluate the development of the cracks. The fiber
orientation in the reference (cast) and 3DP samples was examined
using optical microscopy. The results revealed that, among four
types of fibers used, the PVA fibers were most effective in increasing
the flexural strength of both the cast and 3DP specimens. In addition, the results show that all fibers preferentially aligned parallel to the printing direction. 3DP specimens with filaments aligned in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the applied load showed superior flexural strength when compared to the cast specimens.