In this study, we estimate the potential efficiency of waste fishing net (WFN) fibers as concrete reinforcements. Three WFN fiber concentrations (1, 2, and 3% by volume) were mixed with concrete. Compressive strength, toughness, splitting tensile strength, and biaxial flexural tests were conducted. Compressive strength decreased but other properties increased as a function of fiber proportions. According to the mechanical strength observations and the ductility number, WFN fibers yielded benefits in crack arresting that improved the postcracking behavior and transformed concrete from a brittle into a quasi-brittle material. It is inferred that WFN fiber is a recycled and eco-friendly material that can be utilized as potential concrete reinforcement.

This study presents an estimation of the mechanical property enhancing mechanism of electrospun-nanofiber-blended cementitious materials. Four types of electrospun nanofibers (NFs) were introduced into Portland cement: nylon 66 nanofibers, tetraethyl orthosilicate/polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibers (TEOS/PVP), hybrid nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nylon 66, and hybrid nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes and TEOS/PVP (CNTs-TEOS/PVP NFs). Due to the mechanical strength results, there was an increase of 27.3% and 33.4% in compressive strength when adding TEOS/PVP nanofibers and the hybrid nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes and TEOS/PVP into the pastes, respectively. In addition, there was an increase of 25.7% and 54.3% in tensile strength when adding nylon 66 nanofibers and the hybrid nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes and nylon 66 into the pastes, respectively. The highest toughness of 61.7% was obtained by the paste blended with CNTs-TEOS/PVP NFs. The results observed from scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis clarified the change in the microstructure of the modified pastes, as well as the mechanical property enhancing mechanism of the electrospun-nanofiber-blended cementitious materials.

Based on the increase in tensile strength and toughness (43% and 30%, respectively), the feasibility of the hybrid nanofibers containing Single-walled carbon nanotubes and Nylon 66 on reinforcing cementitious materials has been clarified. The well-linking effect of nanofibers in the microstructure of hardened cement pastes has been found by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and well-explained for the increase in mechanical strengths. Besides, field emission transmission electron microscope (FE-TEM) analysis has also been conducted to analyze the properties of the hybrid nanofibers.

Strengthening existing reinforced concrete (RC) slabs using externally bonded materials is increasingly popular due to its adaptability and versatility. Nevertheless, ductility reduction of the rehabilitated flexural members with these materials can lead to brittle shear failure. Therefore, a new approach for strengthening is necessary. This paper presents a methodology to induce ductile failure of flexural strengthened one-way RC slabs. Ultimate failure loads can be considered to develop the proposed design methodology. Different failure modes corresponding to ultimate failure loads for RC slabs are addressed. Flexural and shear failure regions of RC slabs can be established by considering the failure modes. The end span of the concrete slab is shown for a case study, and numerical examples are solved to prove the essentiality of this methodology.