Compressive and Flexural Properties of the Kevlar Fiber as a Textile-Reinforced Concrete for Lightweight Construction Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22146/jcef.18303Keywords:
3D rebar configuration, 3D hollow configuration, 3D solid configuration, Textile reinforced concrete, Kevlar fiberAbstract
Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) offers a sustainable alternative to conventional steel-reinforced concrete by incorporating textile elements, thereby reducing carbon emissions and enhancing design flexibility. This study examines the use of Kevlar fiber reinforcement in improving the mechanical performance of concrete, with particular attention to compressive and flexural properties. Three Kevlar reinforcement configurations were evaluated: 3-dimensional (3D) rebar, 3D hollow woven fabric, and solid 3D woven fabric, alongside a control sample of unreinforced concrete. Compression tests were conducted in accordance with SNI 03-1974 1990, which is broadly equivalent to ASTM C39 in terms of loading procedure and specimen dimensions. Results showed that the 3D rebar configuration achieved the highest compressive strength of 14.31 MPa, marginally exceeding that of the unreinforced control at 13.28 MPa. Although the gains in compressive strength were modest, the flexural performance exhibited substantial improvement. Flexural tests, following ASTM C78 standards, revealed that the solid 3D woven fabric configuration achieved a flexural strength of 12.17 MPa, whereas that of unreinforced sample was 3.65 MPa. These results indicate that Kevlar-reinforced TRC can be particularly advantageous for applications where superior flexural capacity is required, even if compressive strength remains at a moderate level. Potential uses include non-structural or secondary lightweight elements, such as canopies, facade panels, and other architectural components where weight reduction, crack resistance, and design adaptability are desirable. The findings also highlight the influence of reinforcement configuration, with the solid 3D woven fabric providing the most significant flexural benefits. This research contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the viability of synthetic fiber reinforcement, such as Kevlar, in sustainable concrete design and construction.
References
Abidin, N. M., Sultan, M. T., Hua, L. S., Basri, A. A., Shah, A. U. M. and Safri, S. N. (2019), ‘A brief review of computational analysis and experimental models of composite materials for aerospace applications’, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites 38(23-24), 1031–1039. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684419862869
Aravind, D., Senthilkumar, K., Rajini, N., Kumar, T. S. M., Chandrasekar, M., Ismail, S. O., Yeetsorn, R., Parameswaranpillai, J., Siengchin, S. and Devi, M. I. (2022), ‘Feasibility of elastomeric composites as alternative materials for marine applications: A compendious review on their properties and opportunities’, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part M: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment 236(4), 839–855. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/14750902221095321
Bartulović, B., Juradin, S., Žižić, D. and Galić, M. (2022), ‘Influence of Cotton Knitted Fabric Waste Addition on Concrete Properties’, Buildings 12(8), 1121. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12081121
Behera, B. and Dash, B. (2015), ‘Mechanical behavior of 3D woven composites’, Materials & Design 67, 261–271. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.11.020
Bentur, A. and Mindess, S. (1990), Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites (Routledge, Ed.) , 2 edn, CRC Press. Edited by Routledge. URL: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482267747
Brameshuber, W. (2006), Textile Reinforced Concrete, Vol. 36 of RILEM Report, RILEM Publications SARL. State-of-the-Art Report of RILEM Technical Committee TC 201-TRC.
Carneiro da Silva, L. R., de Oliveira Rios, A. and Santana, R. M. C. (2023), ‘Polymer blends of poly(lactic acid) and starch for the production of films applied in food packaging: A brief review’, Polymers from Renewable Resources 14(2), 108–153. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/20412479231154924
Cheung, T. W. and Li, L. (2019),‘A review of hollow fibers in application-based learning: from textiles to medical’, Textile Research Journal 89(3), 237–253. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517517741164
Coskun, H. and Oner, E. (2022),‘Development of upholstery electro-fabric for smart textile applications’,Journal of Industrial Textiles 52(2_suppl), 2306S–3329S. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/15280837211048157
Dalkılıç, H., Özdemir, H. and Özcanhan, M. H. (2024), ‘Wireless transmission of vital body data and ambient magnetic field with wearable IoT device attached smart textile’, Textile Research Journal 95(1-2), 17–26. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/00405175241252964
El-Feky, M. S., Badawy, A. H., Seddik, K. M. and Yahia, S. (2024), ‘Evaluation of polyester high-tenacity fabric and carbon nanotube reinforcements for improving flexural response in concrete beams’, Scientific Reports 14(1), 26907. URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76729-8
Friese, D., Scheurer, M., Hahn, L., Gries, T. and Cherif, C. (2022),‘Textile reinforcement structures for concrete construction applications –– a review’, Journal of Composite Materials 56(26), 4041–4064. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/00219983221127181
Ghasemi, R., Safarabadi, M., Haghighi-Yazdi, M. and Mirdehghan, S. A. (2024), ‘Micromechanical modeling and experimental study of the flexural properties of impregnated woven textile-reinforced concrete’, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications 238(9), 1791–1804. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/14644207241233719
Gopinath, S., Murthy, A. R., Iyer, N. R. and Prabha, M. (2015), ‘Behaviour of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with basalt textile reinforced concrete’, Journal of Industrial Textiles 44(6), 924–933. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1528083714521068
Hahn, L., Hong, S., Treppe, K., von Zuben, M., Rittner, S., Beckmann, M. and Cherif, C. (2021), ‘Approach toward a thermodynamic analysis on the drying and curing process of textile reinforcements for construction applications as a basis for continuous process control and optimization’, Journal of Industrial Textiles 50(10), 1572–1593. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1528083719865037
Hearle, J. W. S. and Chen, X. (2009), 3d woven preforms and properties for textile composites, in ‘Proceedings of the ICCM International Conferences on Composite Materials’.
Hu, Y., He, Z. and Xuan, H. (2020), ‘Impact Resistance Study of Three-Dimensional Orthogonal Carbon Fibers/BMI Resin Woven Composites’, Materials 13(19), 4376. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194376
Islam, M. J., Ahmed, T., Imam, S. M. F. B., Ifaz, M. and Islam, H. (2023), ‘Flexural and impact behavior of textile reinforced concrete panel’, International Journal of Protective Structures 14(2), 221–241. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/20414196221095250
Koeckritz, U., Cherif, C., Weiland, S. and Curbach, M. (2010), ‘In-Situ Polymer Coating of Open Grid Warp Knitted Fabrics for Textile Reinforced Concrete Application’, Journal of Industrial Textiles 40(2), 157–169. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1528083709102938
Krimi, I., Ducoulombier, L., Dakhli, Z. and Lafhaj, Z. (2016), ‘Durability of textile facing materials for construction: Operating accelerated ageing protocol results in basic medium for lifetime estimation in conditions of use’, Journal of Industrial Textiles 46(3), 929–949. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1528083715606106
Laiblová, L., Pešta, J., Kumar, A., Hájek, P., Fiala, C., Vlach, T. and Kočí, V. (2019), ‘Environmental Impact of Textile Reinforced Concrete Facades Compared to Conventional Solutions—LCA Case Study’, Materials 12(19), 3194. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12193194
Li, Q. and Xu, S. (2011),‘Experimental Research on Mechanical Performance of Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites with Polyvinyl Alcohol Short Fiber and Carbon Textile’, Journal of Composite Materials 45(1), 5–28. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998310371529
Li, V. (2003), ‘On Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) A Review of the Material and Its Applications’, Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology 1(3), 215–230.
Lin, T. A., Lin, M.-C., Lin, T. R., Sim, K. S., Lin, J.-H. and Lou, C.-W. (2022), ‘High-strength protective polyester textiles incorporated with metallic materials: Characterizations and radiation-shielding effectiveness’,Journal of Industrial Textiles 51(10), 1585–1600. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1528083720904678
Lyu, L., Wen, F., Lyu, T., Zhou, X. and Gao, Y. (2022),‘Interfacial Modification and Bending Performance of 3D Orthogonal Woven Composites with Basalt Filament Yarns’, Materials 16(11), 4015. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16114015
Mahadik, Y. and Hallett, S. (2022),‘Effect of fabric compaction and yarn waviness on 3D woven composite compressive properties’,Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 42(11), 1592–1600. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2011.07.006
Naaman, A. E. (2003), ‘Engineered Steel Fibers with Optimal Properties for Reinforcement of Cement Composites’, Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology 1(3), 241–252. URL: https://doi.org/10.3151/jact.1.241
Najafi, B., Mohseni, H., Grewal, G. S., Talal, T. K., Menzies, R. A. and Armstrong, D. G. (2017), ‘An OpticalFiber-Based Smart Textile (Smart Socks) to Manage Biomechanical Risk Factors Associated With Diabetic Foot Amputation’, Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 11(4), 668–677. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1932296817709022
Nelson, P. K., Li, V. C. and Kamada, T. (2002), ‘Fracture Toughness of Microfiber Reinforced Cement Composites’, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 14(5), 384–391. URL: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2002)14:5(384)
Neves, R. and Felicíssimo, D. (2020), ‘Control of Cracking in Textile Reinforced Concrete with Unresin Carbon Fibers’, Materials 13(14), 3209. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13143209
Nguyen, H., Mutsuyoshi, H. and Zatar, W. (2013), ‘Flexural Behavior of Hybrid Composite Beams’, Transportation Research Record 2332(1), 53–63. URL: https://doi.org/10.3141/2332-06
Perera, Y. S., Muwanwella, R. M. H. W., Fernando, P. R., Fernando, S. K. and Jayawardana, T. S. S. (2021), ‘Evolution of 3D weaving and 3D woven fabric structures’, Fashion and Textiles 8(11). URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40691-020-00240-7
Revilla-Cuesta, V., Skaf, M., Santamaría, A., Romera, J. M. and Ortega-López, V. (2022), ‘Elastic stiffness estimation of aggregate – ITZ system of concrete through matrix porosity and volumetric considerations: explanation and exemplification’, Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 22(2), 59. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43452-022-00382-z
Sankaran, V., Ruder, T., Rittner, S., Hufnagl, E. and Cherif, C. (2016),‘A multiaxial warp knitting based yarn path manipulation technology for the production of bionic-inspired multifunctional textile reinforcements in lightweight composites’, Journal of Industrial Textiles 45(6), 1188–1203. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1528083714555778
Sarwar,A., Bougherara, H. and Zdero, R. (2022),‘Tensile and compressive damage assessment of a novel sandwich composite structure made of Kevlar/flax/epoxy hybrid laminates’, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications 236(9), 1842–1853. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/14644207221085686
Seyam, A. M., Vallabh, R. and Hassanin, A. H. (2015), ‘Improving UV Resistance of Fibers: Idealized Computational Model Predicting the Distribution of UV Blocking Cylindrical Nanoparticles in Protective Polymeric Layer’, Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics 10(1). URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/155892501501000103
Shafei, B., Kazemian, M., Dopko, M. and Najimi, M. (2021), ‘State-of-the-Art Review of Capabilities and Limitations of Polymer and Glass Fibers Used for FiberReinforced Concrete’, Materials 14(2), 409. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020409
Ursache, Ș., Cerbu, C. and Hadăr, A. (2024), ‘Characteristics of Carbon and Kevlar Fibres, Their Composites and Structural Applications in Civil Engineering-A Review’, Polymers 16(1), 127. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010127
Verma, V. and Majumdar, A. (2024),‘Structure-property relationships of 3D woven fabric composites: A critical review through bibliometric and content analyses’, Journal of Composite Materials 59(2), 241–263. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/00219983241302171
Walton, P. L. and Majumdar, A. J. (1978), ‘Properties of cement composites reinforced with Kevlar fibres’, Journal of Materials Science 13(5), 1075 – 1083. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00544703
Wang, D., Che, J., Liu, C. and Liu, H. (2024), ‘Design of Mixture Proportion of Engineered Cementitious Composites Based on Desert Sand’, KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 28(7), 2897–2907. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-024-1875-9
Williams Portal, N., Nyholm Thrane, L. and Lundgren, K. (2016), ‘Flexural behaviour of textile reinforced concrete composites: experimental and numerical evaluation’, Materials and Structures 50(4). URL: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-016-0882-9
Wu, C., Pan, Y. and Yan, L. (2023), ‘Mechanical Properties and Durability of Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC)—A Review’, Polymers 15(18), 3826. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183826
Yan, L. and Chouw, N. (2013), ‘A comparative study of steel reinforced concrete and flax fibre reinforced polymer tube confined coconut fibre reinforced concrete beams’, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites 32(16), 1155–1164. URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684413487092
Zhang, A., Zhang, D., Li, D., Zhu, H., Xiao, H. and Jia, J. (2010), ‘Effects of void content on mechanical properties of carbon/epoxy composite laminates’, Zhongguo Jixie Gongcheng [China Mechanical Engineering] 21, 3014–3018.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright is granted to authors for the purpose of providing protection for articles written to describe experiments and their results. JCEF will protect and defend the work and reputation of the author and are also willing to address any allegations of violation, plagiarism, fraud, etc. against articles written and published by JCEF. JCEF is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). The author holds the copyright and assigns the journal rights to the first publication (online and print) of the work simultaneously.
