13th International Conference on Fracture June 16–21, 2013, Beijing, China -6- Figure 3. Correlation between J-integral at maximum load and impact energy for the reinforced mortars with notch root radius of 0.5 and 2.4 mm 4. Conclusions Regarding the study described herein, the evaluation of the effect of sisal fibers on the compressive strength and fracture resistance of hardened cement mortar, the following conclusions can be drawn: • The use of sisal fibers decreases the mortar’s compressive strength. However, the fiber-reinforced mortars exhibit retardation during the failure process, characterized by larger deformations and gradual drop in the applied load, when compared with the plain mortar. • The deleterious influence of sisal fibers on the compressive strength of reinforced mortar seems to be more significant for long fibers than for shorter ones. • The presence of sisal fibers in cement mortar considerably improves its fracture resistance. This improvement is manifested by an increase in the J-Integral values determined at maximum load in the presence of deep notches with different root radii. • Results of impact tests on unnotched specimens indicate a pronounced improvement in impact energy levels due to sisal fibers incorporated to cement mortar. • Longer sisal fibers are seen to be more effective than shorter ones in promoting fracture resistance of reinforced mortars. References [1] R.T. Fujiyama, Cement Mortar Reinforced by Sisal Fibers: Microstructural and Mechanical Characterization (in Portuguese). M.Sc. Thesis, Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 1997. [2] J. Brescansin, Fracture Behavior of Cementitious Matrix Composite Reinforced with Bamboo Pulp (in Portuguese). M.Sc. Thesis, Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de
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