Macro- and microstructural behavior of graphene-nanoplatelet-reinforced cement composite

This article focuses on establishing the suitability of graphene-nanoplatelet (GNP) cement composite to reduce the steel reinforcement percentage in concrete constructions. The nanofiber percentage in the composite is derived based on the developed compressive and flexural strength. The GNP is mixed with cementitious material with various percentages (0.01%–0.3%) to observe the optimum percentage. After getting the optimum percentage of GNP with cement, comprehensive research was conducted on the composite’s mechanical, morphological, rheological, and optical properties. The numerical study has been conducted based on representative volume elements (RVE) that simulate the composite material. The RVE represents the yielding value of the entire volume, considering the minimum volume upon which a measurement can be made. The research delivers essential information on developing a GNP-reinforced cement composite with prescribed nanofiber percentages that can confidently be adopted to reduce the rate of steel reinforcements for any concrete construction.