Textile-reinforced mortars; an experimental comparative study of tensile strength improvement methods

In this article, an experimental study is conducted to compare eight improvement methods for the tensile strength of textile-reinforced mortars (TRM). 12 series of samples with different modification methods are compared to determine the most effective factors on crack initiation force and tensile strength of TRM. Eight modification methods are categorized under three main groups of mortar modification, fabric modification, and fabric-mortar interface modification. TRM's first crack force and ultimate force are considered as indices of method performance. One-way ANOVA and factorial analysis were also conducted to statically determine the most significant methods for improving TRM tensile behavior. The results showed that the modification of mortar by short fiber is the most effective method for the enhancement of TRM's first crack force. Also, the methods which led to the transfer of failure mode from mortar to fabrics were the most effective methods on TRM ultimate force improvement. The result showed that coating fabrics with epoxy affects TRM tensile strength more than all other methods. Extra enhancement of TRM ultimate force is achieved by adding silica fume to epoxy before coating the fabrics and spreading the sand and short fibers on impregnated fabrics.