Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars: A Comparative Study on the Effect of Synthetic and Natural Fibers
The incorporation of fibers in cement-based materials has gained attention in the construction sector in recent decades, aiming to improve the mechanical performance of composites. This present work evaluates the influence of synthetic and natural fibers as reinforcements in cement mortars, analyzin...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/13/2352 |
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| author | A. Arvizu-Montes Oswaldo Guerrero-Bustamante Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza M. J. Martinez-Echevarria |
| author_facet | A. Arvizu-Montes Oswaldo Guerrero-Bustamante Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza M. J. Martinez-Echevarria |
| author_sort | A. Arvizu-Montes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The incorporation of fibers in cement-based materials has gained attention in the construction sector in recent decades, aiming to improve the mechanical performance of composites. This present work evaluates the influence of synthetic and natural fibers as reinforcements in cement mortars, analyzing their effects on both physical and mechanical properties through destructive and non-destructive testing. Polypropylene fibers (PPFs) were considered synthetic reinforcement, whereas alfa fibers (AFs) were selected as a sustainable alternative. Compressive strength, flexural strength and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) were conducted to assess mechanical behavior and material integrity as well as density, water absorption and voids content. Additionally, a statistical approach was performed to compare the properties of both types of fibers and determine their significance in improving mortar properties. The results indicate that both PPFs and AFs significantly improve the flexural strength and promote a ductile failure mode without compromising workability. Moreover, UPV measurements suggest that fiber incorporation does not adversely impair the internal homogeneity of the material. The results obtained confirm the effectiveness of fiber reinforcement, offering valuable insights regarding the potential of AF as a strong candidate for sustainable building purposes and practical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b8889e8cc7b441893bc6af68e33efc0 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b8889e8cc7b441893bc6af68e33efc02025-07-11T14:37:40ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-07-011513235210.3390/buildings15132352Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars: A Comparative Study on the Effect of Synthetic and Natural FibersA. Arvizu-Montes0Oswaldo Guerrero-Bustamante1Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza2M. J. Martinez-Echevarria3Department of Construction Engineering and Projects of Engineering, Construction Engineering Laboratory of the University of Granada (LabIC. UGR), 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Construction Engineering and Projects of Engineering, Construction Engineering Laboratory of the University of Granada (LabIC. UGR), 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080003, ColombiaDepartment of Construction Engineering and Projects of Engineering, Construction Engineering Laboratory of the University of Granada (LabIC. UGR), 18071 Granada, SpainThe incorporation of fibers in cement-based materials has gained attention in the construction sector in recent decades, aiming to improve the mechanical performance of composites. This present work evaluates the influence of synthetic and natural fibers as reinforcements in cement mortars, analyzing their effects on both physical and mechanical properties through destructive and non-destructive testing. Polypropylene fibers (PPFs) were considered synthetic reinforcement, whereas alfa fibers (AFs) were selected as a sustainable alternative. Compressive strength, flexural strength and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) were conducted to assess mechanical behavior and material integrity as well as density, water absorption and voids content. Additionally, a statistical approach was performed to compare the properties of both types of fibers and determine their significance in improving mortar properties. The results indicate that both PPFs and AFs significantly improve the flexural strength and promote a ductile failure mode without compromising workability. Moreover, UPV measurements suggest that fiber incorporation does not adversely impair the internal homogeneity of the material. The results obtained confirm the effectiveness of fiber reinforcement, offering valuable insights regarding the potential of AF as a strong candidate for sustainable building purposes and practical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/13/2352natural fiberscement compositesfiber-reinforced mortarmechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | A. Arvizu-Montes Oswaldo Guerrero-Bustamante Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza M. J. Martinez-Echevarria Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars: A Comparative Study on the Effect of Synthetic and Natural Fibers Buildings natural fibers cement composites fiber-reinforced mortar mechanical properties |
| title | Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars: A Comparative Study on the Effect of Synthetic and Natural Fibers |
| title_full | Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars: A Comparative Study on the Effect of Synthetic and Natural Fibers |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars: A Comparative Study on the Effect of Synthetic and Natural Fibers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars: A Comparative Study on the Effect of Synthetic and Natural Fibers |
| title_short | Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortars: A Comparative Study on the Effect of Synthetic and Natural Fibers |
| title_sort | mechanical performance of fiber reinforced cement mortars a comparative study on the effect of synthetic and natural fibers |
| topic | natural fibers cement composites fiber-reinforced mortar mechanical properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/13/2352 |
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