Pultruded GFRP Reinforcing Bars Using Nanomodified Vinyl Ester.

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bars have relatively low shear strength, which limits their possible use in civil infrastructure applications with high shear demand, such as concrete reinforcing dowels. We suggest that the horizontal shear strength of GFRP bars can be significantly improved by nanomodification of the vinyl ester resin prior to pultrusion. The optimal content of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) well dispersed into the vinyl ester resin was determined using viscosity measurements and scanning electron micrographs. Longitudinal tension and short beam shear tests were conducted to determine the horizontal shear strength of the nanomodified GFRP reinforcing bars. While the tensile strength of the GFRP reinforcing bars was improved by 20%, the horizontal shear strength of the bars was improved by 111% compared with the shear strength of neat GFRP bars pultruded using the same settings. Of special interest is the absence of the typical broom failure observed in GFRP when MWCNTs were used. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements and fiber volume fraction confirmed the quality of the new pultruded GFRP bars. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) measurements demonstrated the formation of carboxyl stretching in nanomodified GFRP bars, indicating the formation of a new chemical bond. The new pultrusion process using nanomodified vinyl ester enables expanding the use of GFRP reinforcing bars in civil infrastructure applications.

Investigation of Pozzolanic Reaction in Nanosilica-Cement Blended Pastes Based on Solid-State Kinetic Models and 29Si MAS NMR.

The incorporation of pozzolanic materials in concrete has many beneficial effects to enhance the mechanical properties of concrete. The calcium silicate hydrates in cement matrix of concrete increase by pozzolanic reaction of silicates and calcium hydroxide. The fine pozzolanic particles fill spaces between clinker grains, thereby resulting in a denser cement matrix and interfacial transition zone between cement matrix and aggregates; this lowers the permeability and increases the compressive strength of concrete. In this study, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) was mixed with 1% and 3% nanosilica by weight to produce cement pastes with water to binder ratio (w/b) of 0.45. The specimens were cured for 7 days. 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments are conducted and conversion fraction of nanosilica is extracted. The results are compared with a solid-state kinetic model. It seems that pozzolanic reaction of nanosilica depends on the concentration of calcium hydroxide.