Characterization of Dry Woven Fabrics Strengthened Polymer Concrete Composites

Polymer concretes (PCs) have recently attracted attention with their use in industry, thanks to their superior structural properties. To further improve the mechanical properties of polymer concretes, a kind of composite material, the achievements in composite technology should be transferred to this field. While studies in this context mainly involve dispersing chopped fibers in PC, the reinforcement of dry-woven fabric is not frequently encountered. In this study, the effects of the reinforcement of aramid, glass, and carbon dry woven fabrics under a specific layout plan on the flexural and compressive behaviors of polymer concrete were investigated. In this regard, first, the mechanical properties of the woven fabrics were analyzed by performing single yarn tensile, yarn pull-out, and woven tensile tests, and it was understood that aramid fabric has superior mechanical properties compared to other fabrics. After that, the reinforcement of PCs with dry woven fabrics was performed, and the density and mechanical tests were carried out parametrically at 7, 14, and 28 days of curing time. After 28 days of curing, a 14% increase in the flexural strength of carbon fabric-reinforced specimens occurred, while a 14% increase in the compressive strength of aramid fabric-reinforced specimens was obtained. The most important results of the study are that the reinforcement of polymer concrete with dry woven fabrics is quite effortless and manageable; the fibers carry the load and form a good interface with the polymer concrete, creating a bridging effect at the fracture and resulting in a strength increase.