Fluid transport in cracked fabric-reinforced-cement-based composites

Cracks in cementitious materials can substantially increase fluid penetration. Fiber reinforcement can reduce the crack width in cementitious materials, thereby reducing fluid transport. Substantial research has been performed to better understand how fabric reinforcement can be used to improve the mechanical behavior of cement-based composites. As a result, the use of fabric reinforcement is being increasingly used in these applications. Fabric reinforcement is being increasingly selected based on the mechanical properties the fabric provides, but unfortunately, the influence of fabric reinforcement on fluid transport is less frequently considered in the fabric selection process. This paper attempts to provide experimental measurements that indicate the importance of fabric properties on fluid transport. This paper describes a series of experiments in which fluid transport was measured using X-ray radiography in cracked cement paste samples that were reinforced with different commercially available fabrics made with monofilament and multifilament yarns that were both coated and uncoated. Results show that fabrics made of multifilament yarns without coating may be problematic from a durability point of view. However, when multifilament yarns are coated, the fabric behaves as a monofilament system. The transport behavior was observed to be highly dependent on the quality of the coating. This should be considered in addition to mechanical performance in assessing the type of fabrics that should be used for a specific application.