Integration of Polypropylene Microfibres in 3D Textile Reinforced Cements (3D TRCs): Influence of Textile Architecture on Manufacturing Process and Mechanical Performance

In the presented research, short microfibres are integrated into 3D Textile Reinforced Cements (3D TRCs). 3D textiles provide significant advantages compared to 2D textiles, such as more straightforward manufacturing and improved anchorage, leading to enhanced flexural properties and cracking behaviour. The short fibres provide a further improvement of the mechanical performance, along with advanced crack control and narrower crack widths. The influence of the 3D textile’s architecture on the manufacturing of microfibre-enhanced TRCs should, however, be investigated as the presence of the 3D textile’s spacer yarns could significantly affect the fibre-mortar mixture’s penetration through the textile. In this paper, the influence of the spacer yarns on the manufacturing and mechanical performance of microfibre-enhanced 3D TRCs is investigated, comparing equivalent 2D and 3D TRCs with integrated short fibres, as well as different casting directions for microfibre-enhanced 3D TRCs and their influence on the material’s flexural behaviour. 6 mm length polypropylene (PP) fibres were added to the fresh cement matrix with a volume fraction of 1.0 v%. Although the different casting directions did not lead to significant differences in flexural mechanical response and crack formation, casting in the spacer yarn direction did generate more repeatable behaviour. Furthermore, the comparison between microfibre-enhanced 2D and 3D TRCs showed little difference in the macroscopic mechanical response. A higher energy absorption was, however, observed for the microfibre-enhanced 3D TRCs.