Influence of the specimen´s geometry on the mechanical characteristics of cement mortars with addition of fibres

Abstract

The influence of the specimen’s geometry on the mechanical properties

of cement mortars with addition of carbon and basalt fibers has been

studied. The first phase focused on the influence of the different amount

of fibers on the mechanical properties of mortars. The tests showed that

the addition of a 1% of fibers on the mortars significantly improved

their energy absorption capacity. In the second phase, eight different

specimen geometries were tested: four by flexural tests and four by

compressive tests. The analysis of the results showed the influence of

the specimen’s geometry on the mechanical characteristics of mortars

with fibers.

It was observed that the maximum strength resisted by the specimen

decreased at the time its dimensions increased, producing a “size

effect”. On the other hand, the strengths’ decrease is more progressive in

specimens with a wide/tall bigger ratio, being this a decisive parameter

in the amount of absorbed energy before the collapse takes place.