Textile fabrics for cement composites

One of the most efficient ways to obtain a high performance cementitious composite is by reinforcement with continuous fibers. Production of such composites can be accomplished by the use of textile fabrics, which are impregnated with cement paste or mortar. The present paper provides an overview of the major characteristics in predicting the performance of cement composites reinforced with fabrics. The geometry of the fabrics themselves (weft insertion warp knit, short weft warp knit and woven fabrics) as well as the geometrical structure of the yarns within the fabrics are discussed. It was found that the geometry of a given fabric could enhance the bonding and enable one to obtain strain hardening behavior with low modulus yarn fabrics. On the other hand, variations of the geometry in a fabric could drastically reduce the efficiency, resulting in a reduced strengthening effect of the yarns in the fabric relative to single yarns not in a fabric form. The improved bonding in low modulus yarn was found to be mainly the result of the special shape of the yarn induced by the fabric. Therefore, in cement composites, the fabrics cannot be viewed simply as a means for holding together continuous yarns so that they can be readily placed in the matrix.