Enhanced interfacial bonding performance through novel stranded steel fibers in PVA-ECC: Experimental and theoretical analysis

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Stranded-shaped materials might be an alternative reinforced fiber for hybrid fiber-reinforced cementitious composites due to their outstanding pullout resistance . This study introduced a novel PVA-stranded steel hybrid fiber-reinforced composite (PSHFRC). Experimental and analytical investigations studied the interfacial properties of stranded steel (SS) fiber and PVA fiber-reinforced matrices, as well as the mechanical performance of PSHFRC. The findings revealed the bond strength of SS fiber in the matrix was approximately 2.06 and 4.80 times greater than that of hooked-end and straight fibers, respectively. In comparison to hybrid fiber-reinforced cementitious composites using hooked-end fibers and PVA fibers, the PSHFRC produced shows a 95 % improvement in tensile strength and a 168 % increase in tensile strain under similar conditions. An analytical model was suggested to characterize the interfacial mechanical properties between SS fiber and matrices. Validation results demonstrated that this model is applicable for characterizing the interfacial properties between SS fiber and matrices. This research highlights the practical benefits of using stranded-shaped materials in hybrid fiber-reinforced cementitious composites, demonstrating their potential to improve mechanical performance of construction materials.