Integrating fabrics with dry rapid-setting cementitious powder for enhanced wetting and mechanical strength

Textile-reinforced cement-based composites are increasingly recognized for their potential environmental benefits and enhanced mechanical performance. The use of 3D fabrics as reinforcement enables a unique production method, Dry Cementitious Powder Casting (DCPC). This method utilizes the volume enclosed by the fabric yarns for dense impregnation with dry cement powder and subsequent wetting to create a Textile-Reinforced Concrete (TRC) composite. We investigate the impact of fabric integration on water imbibition in dry cementitious materials, which become increasingly impermeable during hydration. We compare the wetting process between the cement and an inert mineral that mimics the cement's non-hydrated state, allowing uninterrupted (without hydration) water infiltration for assessing imbibition without the complications of cement hardening. For fabric integration, a representative 3D fabric is used for understanding its impact on the process by testing it across different water supply rates. Our findings demonstrate that fabric integration significantly enhances water imbibition and mitigates water ponding. These observations are supported by compressive strength tests, illustrating a direct relationship between improved water imbibition and enhanced mechanical properties.