Abstract:

It is an undesirable situation for cement-bound materials to be brittle. Mortars with brittle character show brittle properties under applied loads. When they reach the limit of the load they can carry and the energy they can absorb, fractures occur. The fact that cemented products exhibit such properties can often be considered as an undesirable situation depending on the purpose of use. More ductile and more energy-absorbing mortars are preferred. Different fibers can be used to add ductility to cement-based mortars and to absorb more energy. In this experimental study, in order to examine the effects of Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) fiber size on the properties of cement-based light mortar, 9 different mortar combinations were prepared, and mortar samples were prepared by adding PVA fiber at the rates of 0.3%, 0.6%, 1%, 1.4% by weight. In addition to the test samples prepared using PVA fibers in 2 different sizes, 6 mm and 8 mm in length, control samples without fiber for reference purposes were also prepared. Compressive strength, water absorption and ultrasound transmission velocity tests of all test samples were carried out experimentally. According to the findings, when the amount of 6 mm PVA fiber used was increased, an increase was observed in the compressive strength and ultrasound transmission velocity values of the mortar, while a decrease was observed in the water absorption by mass and capillary water absorption values. However, when the amount of 8 mm PVA fiber used was increased, it was determined that the compressive strength and ultrasound transmission rate values decreased, and the water absorption values increased. It has been observed that the deformation value of the control mortar is less under load and this mortar is more brittle. However, it was determined that the mortars exhibited a more ductile behavior as the fiber content increased. Also, it has been observed that 6 mm PVA fibers can increase both the ultimate load and the deformation together.

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