Fracture toughness of recycled carbon fibers reinforced cement mortar and its environmental impact assessment

Tao Shi; Kun-Ming Li; Cheng-Zhe Wang; Zhe Jin; Xin-Kai Hao; Peng Sun; Yan-Xing Han; Chong-Gen Pan; Ning Fu; Hai-Bo Wang

doi:10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04866

Case Studies in Construction Materials (Jul 2025)

Fracture toughness of recycled carbon fibers reinforced cement mortar and its environmental impact assessment

Tao Shi,
Kun-Ming Li,
Cheng-Zhe Wang,
Zhe Jin,
Xin-Kai Hao,
Peng Sun,
Yan-Xing Han,
Chong-Gen Pan,
Ning Fu,
Hai-Bo Wang

Affiliations

Tao Shi: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Construction and Intelligent Operation & Maintenance for Coastal Infrastructure (Zhejiang University of Technology), Hangzhou 310023, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China.
Kun-Ming Li: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Cheng-Zhe Wang: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Zhe Jin: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Xin-Kai Hao: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Construction and Intelligent Operation & Maintenance for Coastal Infrastructure (Zhejiang University of Technology), Hangzhou 310023, China; Yangtze River Delta Carbon Fiber and Composite Material Innovation Center, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213126, China; Corresponding authors at: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China.
Peng Sun: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Yan-Xing Han: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Chong-Gen Pan: School of Civil Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, China
Ning Fu: Ningbo Jiaochuan Component Co., Ltd, Ningbo 315207, China
Hai-Bo Wang: Ningbo Jiaochuan Component Co., Ltd, Ningbo 315207, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04866
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 22
p. e04866

Abstract

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This paper aims to investigate the mechanism of the effect of recycled carbon fibers on the fracture toughness of cement mortar and assess their environmental impact. The physical and interfacial properties of RCF were first characterized and found comparable to those of virgin carbon fibers (VCF). Three-point bending tests revealed that RCF significantly enhances the fracture energy, ductility index, crack initiation toughness, unstable toughness and cohesive toughness of cement mortar by up to 446.84 %, 238.71 %, 104.22 %, 137.12 % and 169.09 %, respectively. Additionally, the bilinear softening constitutive curve for recycled carbon fibers reinforced cement mortar was applied to compute the cohesive toughness which was validated by experiments and the related research on virgin carbon fibers reinforced cement mortar was conducted for comparison. Finally, a strength-based life cycle assessment showed that the global warming potential and primary energy depletion indicators of RCF-reinforced mortar were reduced by 38.47 % and 13.79 %, respectively, compared to VCF-reinforced mortar. These results confirm the engineering feasibility and sustainability of using RCF as a substitute for VCF in cement mortar.

Published in Case Studies in Construction Materials

ISSN: 2214-5095 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/case-studies-in-construction-materials

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