Tensile behavior of fabric-cement-based composites reinforced with non-continuous load bearing yarns

The main aim of this work was two-fold, to study the ability of the fabric within a TRC to carry loads when not all the yarns along the loading direction are continuous and to better understand the role of the transverse yarns when subjected to tensile loading. An excellent correlation was found between the behaviors of the composites and fabrics studied. The load values in stages one and two (while the matrix is still participating in load carrying) were much greater than expected, i.e., not proportionally correlated with the number of continuous yarns. This suggests that during the first two stages of loading, not only the continuous yarns are active and carry the loads, but also the discontinuous (cut) ones participate in load bearing via stress transfer from the transverse yarns and the matrix. Use of an effective ratio between the cross-sections of the yarns and the matrix enables ‘smooth’ tensile behavior, essential in structural elements. A greater matrix cross-section produces a composite with improved tensile stress (at the end of the multiple cracking) which is more ductile and having greater energy absorption but at the expense of a significant drop in load.