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Abstract

An experimental investigation has been conducted to determine the flexural characteristics of concrete reinforced with chopped graphite/epoxy prepreg fibers. The flexural behavior of concrete beams reinforced with 0.5% and 1.5% fiber volume fractions of 1.0 inch (25.4 mm) fibers, 3.0 inch (76.2 mm) fibers and a mixture of both lengths of fibers were compared with plain concrete beams. A set of thirty-five 30 inch (76.2 cm) long beams with a 6 inch (15.2 cm) square cross section were tested in four-point flexure. The flexural strength, toughness, and stiffness characteristics were evaluated by monitoring load and center deflection. This study provides insight into fiber length and fiber volume fraction that best improve the flexural characteristics of concrete. The flexural toughness of concrete is increased by two and a half orders of magnitude when 1.5% volume fraction of 3.0 inch (76.2 mm) long fibers are included in the mix. Also, when 1.5% volume fraction of 3.0 inch (76.2 mm) long fibers are included in concrete, the deflection prior to failure increases by a factor of six. The maximum load of plain concrete is increased 25% with the addition of 1.5% volume fraction of 1.0 inch (25.4 mm) long fibers and 74% with the addition of 1.5% volume fraction of 3.0 inch (76.2 mm) long fibers.

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Flexure of Concrete with Chopped GR/EP Prepreg Fibers

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