FLEXURAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF VARIOUS CARBON FIBRE FABRIC REINFORCED GEOPOLYMER COMPOSITE

In this paper; the results of an experimental investigation on the flexural behaviour, the mechanical properties, and the failure mode of a carbon textile reinforced geopolymer mortar composite subjected to four-point bending test are presented. The influence of various factors such as the type of the carbon fibre fabric, reinforcement ratio, dosage of the chopped basalt fibre on the flexural performance of the reinforced geopolymer composite is experimentally studied. The results reveal that the use of carbon fibre fabrics in the production of high-strength geopolymer matrix composites makes it possible for them to achieve a relatively high mechanical strength. Moreover, the value of the flexural strength and flexural toughness is strongly influenced by the reinforcement ratio and the mechanical properties of the fibre yarn of the carbon textile. The addition of the chopped basalt fibre (BF) plays an important role in both the improved mechanical strength and the failure mode of the geopolymer textile composites. The failure mode of all the specimens shows either a pure bending failure or a peeling off the concrete at the matrix/fibre interface due to the rupture of some filaments in the outer layer and the loss of the bonding strength of the fibre yarn in the matrix leading to the slippage of the fibre yarns within the matrix.