This research studied the flexural behavior of concrete elements reinforced with 3D fabrics. The influences of the yarns along the Z direction were studied, focusing on four parameters: (i) Z yarns properties, high performance aramid vs. low performance polyester, (ii)…
This research studied the flexural behavior of concrete elements reinforced with 3D fabrics. The influences of the yarns along the Z direction were studied, focusing on four parameters: (i) Z yarns properties, high performance aramid vs. low performance polyester, (ii) content of aramid Z yarns, 50% and 100%, (iii) epoxy impregnated fabrics to increase stiffness and reinforcing efficiency and (iv) 2D fabric vs. 3D fabric composites. Improved performance was found for the 3D fabric as compared with 2D fabric composites. High properties yarns along the Z direction found to highly improve the strength and toughness of the cement-based composite, with more significant improvement of epoxy impregnated fabrics. It can be concluded that 3D fabrics can be beneficial as reinforcements for cement-based composites although the Z yarns are not along the applied loads, as they hold the whole fabric together providing stiff and tight single unit, leading to improved mechanical anchoring and properties, mainly when impregnated in epoxy.