Crack growth characteristics of fiber-reinforced quasi-brittle materials

An experimental evaluation of the influence of the reinforcing fiber size and spacing on the fracture behavior of mortar composites is presented. Quasi-static and fatigue testing was performed on mortar specimens reinforced with fibers of 0.08, 0.06 and 0.04 in. (2, 1.5 and 1 mm) diameter with corresponding spacing between the fibers of 1.5, 0.6 and 0.23 in. (37.5, 15 and 5.8 mm). The volume fraction of the fibers was kept constant. The stress level was varied between 50% and 80% for the fatigue testing. All the testing was performed in three point bending.;Fracture energy G...