Strain-hardening fiber cement optimization and component tailoring by means of a micromechanical model

It is well known that fibers can impart tensile ductility into fiber cement products. Specific rational guideline for engineering desirable fiber, matrix, and interface properties leading to optimized fiber cement product performance; however, is scarce. This paper discusses the theoretical basis for composite optimization of synthetic fiber reinforced cement that leads to maximum tensile ductility while minimizing the content of the expensive fiber component of fiber cement products. Specific tailoring of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber and polypropylene (PP) fiber and experimentally verified tensile ductility characteristics of the resulting fiber cement products are employed to illustrate the theoretical concepts. It is demonstrated that high product performance can be achieved with minimal amount of fibers via composite optimization. The theoretical tools developed are applicable to a wide range of fiber types and matrix types.