ABSTRACT

Abstract This paper presents fracture mechanism of fiber reinforced quasi brittle matrices and reports recent progress in interface characterization for cement-based materials.

Properties of the fiber reinforced composites depend on the methods o f process­ ing, the properties o f fiber, matrix and the characteristics of interface. The response of fiber reinforced composites can vary from the strain softening type of behavior similar to that o f unreinforced quasi-brittle matrix to the strain hardening type of response typically associated with ductile materials. Fracture behavior of composites was studied by using quantitative fluorescent microscopy, laser holographic interferometry and acoustic emission techniques. Although only one single crack dominates during strain softening process, the strain hardening response is associated with sequential multiple cracking. It was observed that fibers enhance toughness as well as the tensile strength of the matrix for the strain hardening type of response.