Hybrid steel and carbon fiber reinforcement enhances mechanical performance and sustainability of cementitious composites

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ÖZTÜRK M., Arpaci S. S.

Scientific Reports, cilt.16, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1038/s41598-026-60833-y
  • Dergi Adı: Scientific Reports
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Zoological Record, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Carbon fiber, Cost, Hybrid, LCA, Steel fiber
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study investigates the synergistic effects of hybrid steel fiber (SF) and carbon fiber (CF) reinforcement on the mechanical, microstructural, and sustainability profiles of cementitious composites. While fiber-reinforced mortars are known for enhanced ductility, the multi-scale interaction between macro-scale SF and micro-scale CF remains under-explored in the context of simultaneous environmental and economic optimization. Experimental results demonstrate that the hybrid integration of 0.37% SF and 0.10% CF achieves a superior flexural-to-compressive strength ratio, attributed to a hierarchical crack-arrest mechanism. Microstructural analysis via Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirms that CF acts as a pore-refiner, densifying the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). Furthermore, a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and cost-efficiency analysis were integrated into a novel ‘Performance Index’ (PI) to resolve the trade-offs between technical performance and sustainability. The findings reveal that optimized hybrid systems provide a more sustainable alternative to mono-fiber systems, offering a balanced solution for high-performance and eco-friendly construction materials.