Effect of Carbon Nanotubes in Alkali Activated Slag Mortars on Basic Fracture Parameters Obtained via Double-K Fracture Model

Effect of Carbon Nanotubes in Alkali Activated Slag Mortars on Basic Fracture Parameters Obtained via Double-K Fracture Model

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Currently solved project of team of authors of this paper is devoted to the investigation of effects of carbon nanotubes as nano-sized reinforcement on the properties of alkali activated aluminosilicate mortars and the main motivation is to reduce cracking tendency and improve tensile properties of these materials. The three point bending tests were performed on seven sets of mortar beam specimens to obtain the fracture parameters that were determined via double-K fracture model. This model allows the quantification of two different levels of the crack propagation: the initiation, which corresponds to the beginning of the stable crack growth and the level of the unstable crack propagation. The initiation of cracks during the fracture tests was also monitored by the acoustic emission method. The material of specimens was different in amount of carbon nanotubes. First alkali activated slag material was reference without nano-sized reinforcement; the other composites contain carbon nanotubes in amount 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.50 and 1.0% of weight of slag, respectively.

Currently solved project of team of authors of this paper is devoted to the investigation of effects of carbon nanotubes as nano-sized reinforcement on the properties of alkali activated aluminosilicate mortars and the main motivation is to reduce cracking tendency and improve tensile properties of these materials. The three point bending tests were performed on seven sets of mortar beam specimens to obtain the fracture parameters that were determined via double-K fracture model. This model allows the quantification of two different levels of the crack propagation: the initiation, which corresponds to the beginning of the stable crack growth and the level of the unstable crack propagation. The initiation of cracks during the fracture tests was also monitored by the acoustic emission method. The material of specimens was different in amount of carbon nanotubes. First alkali activated slag material was reference without nano-sized reinforcement; the other composites contain carbon nanotubes in amount 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.50 and 1.0% of weight of slag, respectively.