Relations between rheological and mechanical properties of fiber reinforced mortar

Fresh and hardened behaviors of a new hybrid fiber (steel fiber, polyvinyl alcohol fiber and calcium carbonate whisker) reinforced cementitious composites (HyFRCC) with admixtures (fly ash, silica fume and water reducer) have been studied. Within the limitations of the equipment and testing program, it is illustrated that the rheological properties of the new HyFRCC conform to the modified Bingham model. The relations between flow spread and yield stress as well as flow rate and plastic viscosity both conform well with negative exponent correlation, justifying that slump flow and flow rate test can be applied to replace the other two as simple rheology measurement and control method in jobsite. In addition, for the new HyFRCC with fly ash and water reducer, the mathematical model between the rheological and mechanical properties conform well with the quadratic function, and these quadratic function curves are always concave upward. Based on mathematical analysis, an optimal range of rheology/ flowability can be identified to achieve ideal mechanical properties. In addition, this optimization method can be extended to PVA fiber reinforced cement-based composites.