This paper investigates the effects of the reinforcement ratio, volume fraction of steel fibers, and prestressing on the uniaxial tensile behavior of carbon textile reinforced mortar (CTRM) through uniaxial tensile tests. The results show that the tensile strength of CTRM specimens increases with the reinforcement ratio, however the textile⁻matrix bond strength becomes weaker and debonding can occur. Short steel fibers are able to improve the mechanical properties of the entire CTRM composite and provide additional "shear resistant ability" to enhance the textile⁻ matrix bond strength, resulting in finer cracks with smaller spacing and width. Investigations into the fracture surfaces using an optical microscope clarify these inferences. Increases in first-crack stress and tensile strength are also observed in prestressed TRM specimens. In this study, the combination of 1% steel fibers and prestressing at 15% of the ultimate tensile strength of two-layer textiles is found to be the optimum configuration, producing the highest first-crack stress and tensile strength and the most reasonable multi-cracking pattern.
Keywords: carbon textile reinforced mortar; debonding failure; multi-cracking pattern; prestress; steel fibers; uniaxial tensile tests.