TY - JOUR
T1 - Strength and fracture toughness of earth-based natural fiber-reinforced composites
AU - Mustapha, Kabiru
AU - Annan, Ebenezer
AU - Azeko, Salifu T.
AU - Zebaze Kana, Martiale G.
AU - Soboyejo, Winston O.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© SAGE Publications.
PY - 2016/4/1
Y1 - 2016/4/1
N2 - This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and theoretical study of the strength, fracture toughness, and resistance-curve behavior of natural fiber-reinforced earth-based composite materials. The composites, which consist of mixtures of laterite, clay, and straw, are stabilized with controlled levels of Ordinary Portland cement. The compositional dependence of compressive, flexural/bend strength, and fracture toughness are explored for different proportions of the constituent materials using composites and crack-tip shielding models. The underlying crack-microstructure interactions associated with resistance-curve behavior were also studied using in situ/ex situ optical microscopy. This revealed evidence of crack bridging by the straw fibers. The measured resistance-curve behavior is also shown to be consistent with predictions from small- and large-scale bridging models. The implications of the results are then discussed for potential applications in the design of robust earth-based building materials for sustainable eco-friendly homes.
AB - This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and theoretical study of the strength, fracture toughness, and resistance-curve behavior of natural fiber-reinforced earth-based composite materials. The composites, which consist of mixtures of laterite, clay, and straw, are stabilized with controlled levels of Ordinary Portland cement. The compositional dependence of compressive, flexural/bend strength, and fracture toughness are explored for different proportions of the constituent materials using composites and crack-tip shielding models. The underlying crack-microstructure interactions associated with resistance-curve behavior were also studied using in situ/ex situ optical microscopy. This revealed evidence of crack bridging by the straw fibers. The measured resistance-curve behavior is also shown to be consistent with predictions from small- and large-scale bridging models. The implications of the results are then discussed for potential applications in the design of robust earth-based building materials for sustainable eco-friendly homes.
KW - Composites
KW - crack bridging
KW - crack-tip shielding
KW - fracture toughness
KW - resistance-curve behavior
KW - strength
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84960323950&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0021998315589769
DO - 10.1177/0021998315589769
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84960323950
SN - 0021-9983
VL - 50
SP - 1145
EP - 1160
JO - Journal of Composite Materials
JF - Journal of Composite Materials
IS - 9
ER -