Experimental Investigation of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fibers and Fabric for Flexural Reinforcement in Ultra-High-Performance Concrete.

Abstract

This study investigates the use of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers and fabric to enhance the flexural performance of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC). A total of 45 specimens were tested to examine the effects of fiber type, fabric material, adhesive, and various combined strengthening techniques. The main findings are that incorporating UHMWPE fiber into the ultra-high-strength mortar (HSM) matrix provides superior performance compared to steel fiber, particularly in enhancing crack resistance and energy absorption. UHMWPE fiber-reinforced UHPC achieved a flexural toughness of 307 KJ/m³, over three times higher than that of steel fiber-reinforced UHPC (98 KJ/m³). The use of UHMWPE fabrics was more effective in improving the ductility and toughness of the composites than the use of glass fabrics. The bonding effect of using epoxy resin with UHMWPE fabric is better than using magnesium phosphate cement (MPC). Increasing the number of fabric layers improved the flexural properties of externally bonded fabric but had no impact on internal reinforcement techniques. The best strengthening method in this study was a combination of incorporating UHMWPE fiber internally and externally bonded fabric on a concrete surface, yielding the highest toughness of 580 KJ/m³.