Mechanical Response and Analysis of Cracking Process in Hybrid TRM Composites with Flax Textile and Curaua Fibres

In recent years, the use of plant fibres in Textile-Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composites emerged as a valuable solution to increase their sustainability. Several studies carried out to mechanically characterize the so-called Natural TRMs, although showing promising results, also emphasised some drawbacks due to a severe deformability of the system and to durability issues. This study aims at improving the mechanical behaviour of Natural TRMs including impregnated flax textile (Flax TRMs) by the addition of short curaua fibres within the matrix. Flax TRM specimens were tested in tension to assess the influence of the fibre-reinforced mortar on the composite response. The crack pattern developed during the test was investigated via Digital Image Correlation analysis and by means of an analytical simplified model proposed by the authors. The addition of curaua fibres resulted in a denser crack pattern and in a significant decrease of the mean crack width (around 20%). The overall tensile response of Flax TRMs including curaua fibres resulted closer to the ideal three-linear behaviour of strain-hardening TRM composites with respect to the conventional Flax TRMs by also presenting an increase of dissipated energy of around 45%. This study paves the way for further analysis aimed at enhancing the mechanical performance of Natural TRMs adopting sustainable improvement techniques.

Automated summary

This study aims at improving the mechanical behavior of Flax TRMs by adding curaua fibers, resulting in a denser crack pattern, significant decrease in crack width, and around 45% increase in dissipated energy. The overall tensile response of the Flax TRMs including curaua fibers approaches the ideal three-linear behavior of strain-hardening TRM composites. This paves the way for further analysis to enhance the mechanical performance of Natural TRMs using sustainable improvement techniques.