Determination of the mechanical properties of prestressed fiber-reinforced polymer concrete

Abstract

Polymer concrete is increasingly used in high-precision machine tools due to its excellent damping properties, thermal stability, and reduced environmental impact. However, its low tensile strength and stiffness limit its use in structural or dynamically loaded components. This study examines the mechanical enhancement of polymer concrete through the integration of prestressed continuous carbon fiber reinforcements. Specimens with embedded carbon fiber rovings prestressed up to 470 MPa were fabricated and tested under three-point bending and uniaxial compression loading. Bending strength increased by up to 35 % and bending stiffness by 16 %, with significant gains occurring beyond a prestress level of 70 – 110 MPa. CT imaging confirmed that prestressing delayed crack initiation and limited propagation. Under compressive loading parallel to the fiber direction, strength increased by up to 8 %, though the effect diminished at higher prestress levels. A reduction in compressive strength was observed for transverse loading, attributed to matrix discontinuities and stress redistribution. The results demonstrate that prestressed fiber integration significantly improves the structural performance of polymer concrete, offering enhanced load capacity and failure resistance. These findings lay the foundation for broader application of polymer concrete in load-bearing components and support the development of hybrid systems combining mechanical efficiency with design flexibility.