LAUSR

Abstract Recently, CaCO3 whiskers (CW) are used as new-type micro-fibers for achieving reinforcing and toughening of cement-based materials due to their cracking resistance ability at micro-scale. In this paper, the combination of steel-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers are added into CW reinforced cement mortar (CWRCM) to further enhance the reinforcing and toughening effects at meso- and macro-scales. In addition, four analytical models of fiber reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) were developed to describe the compressive stress-strain response. The cylindrical specimens are tested under uniaxial compressive loading to investigate the effect of different volume fractions of steel-PVA hybrid fibers in CWRCM. The test results indicated that the incorporation of steel-PVA hybrid fibers could significantly improve the stress-strain behavior of CWRCM, as compared to that of the CWRCM. The highest ultimate compressive strength (fc), elasticity modulus (Ec) and total compressive strain energy (ED) were observed in SF1.8PF0.2, but SF1.5PF0.5 showed a greater peak strain (eu). Moreover, the prediction models of compressive parameters were proposed by simultaneously considering the reinforcing index (RI) of steel and PVA fibers. The obtained parameters in four models were evaluated according to their essential requirements. It was found that only Model III met its essential requirements and parameters were closely associated with RI values of steel and PVA fibers.