TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of Synthetic Fibers on the Flexural Properties of Concrete
T2 - Prediction of Toughness as a Function of Volume, Slenderness Ratio and Elastic Modulus of Fibers
AU - Del Savio, Alexandre Almeida
AU - Esquivel, Darwin La Torre
AU - de Andrade Silva, Flávio
AU - Agreda Pastor, Joaquín
N1 - Funding Information:
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - The construction industry requires concrete with adequate post-cracking behavior for applications such as tunnels, bridges, and pavements. For this reason, polypropylene macrofibers are used, which are synthetic fibers that fulfill the function of providing residual strength to concrete. In this study, an experimental plan is carried out to evaluate the bending behavior of concrete reinforced with polypropylene fibers using the four-point bending test according to ASTM C1609. Three fiber dosages (3.6, 7.2 and 10.8 kg/m3) and three fiber lengths (40, 50, and 60 mm) were used. The use of macro polypropylene fibers increased the post-cracking behavior of concrete. In addition, based on the experimentally obtained results and available literature data, a multivariable equation was developed to predict the concrete toughness as a function of the volume, slenderness, and modulus of elasticity of the fibers. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r of 0.90, showed a strong correlation between the developed equation and the experimental data. From this equation, it was possible to determine the participation of the following parameters in calculating toughness. The participation or weight of the fiber’s modulus of elasticity on the concrete’s tenacity is 26%, the volume of the fiber is 39%, the slenderness is 19%, and the reinforcement index is 16%.
AB - The construction industry requires concrete with adequate post-cracking behavior for applications such as tunnels, bridges, and pavements. For this reason, polypropylene macrofibers are used, which are synthetic fibers that fulfill the function of providing residual strength to concrete. In this study, an experimental plan is carried out to evaluate the bending behavior of concrete reinforced with polypropylene fibers using the four-point bending test according to ASTM C1609. Three fiber dosages (3.6, 7.2 and 10.8 kg/m3) and three fiber lengths (40, 50, and 60 mm) were used. The use of macro polypropylene fibers increased the post-cracking behavior of concrete. In addition, based on the experimentally obtained results and available literature data, a multivariable equation was developed to predict the concrete toughness as a function of the volume, slenderness, and modulus of elasticity of the fibers. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r of 0.90, showed a strong correlation between the developed equation and the experimental data. From this equation, it was possible to determine the participation of the following parameters in calculating toughness. The participation or weight of the fiber’s modulus of elasticity on the concrete’s tenacity is 26%, the volume of the fiber is 39%, the slenderness is 19%, and the reinforcement index is 16%.
KW - ASTM C1609
KW - fibers
KW - polypropylene macrofibers
KW - post-cracking behavior
KW - residual strength
KW - synthetic macrofibers
KW - toughness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149035550&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/polym15040909
DO - 10.3390/polym15040909
M3 - Artículo (Contribución a Revista)
AN - SCOPUS:85149035550
SN - 2073-4360
VL - 15
JO - Polymers
JF - Polymers
IS - 4
M1 - 909
ER -