International Concrete Abstracts Portal

Title: Comparison of Shrinkage Cracking Performance of Different Types of Fibers and Wiremesh

Author(s): S. P. Shah M. Sarigaphuti, and M. E. Karaguler

Publication: Special Publication

Volume: 142

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-18

Keywords: compressive strength; crack width and spacing; fibers; cracking (fracturing); drying shrinkage; fiber reinforced concretes; reinforcing materials; shrinkage; tensile stress; welded wire mesh; Materials Research

Date: 1/1/1994

Abstract:
Concrete structures shrink when they are subjected to a drying environment. If this shrinkage is restrained, then tensile stresses develop and concrete may crack. One of the methods to reduce the adverse effects of shrinkage cracking is to reinforce concrete with short randomly distributed fibers. Another possible method is the use of wire mesh. The efficiency of fibers and wire mesh to arrest cracks in cementitious composites was studied. Different types of fibers (steel, polypropylene, and cellulose) with fiber content of 0.25 and 0.5 percent by volume of concrete were examined. Ring-type specimens were used for restrained shrinkage cracking tests. These fibers and wire mesh show significant reduction in crack width. Steel fiber reinforced concrete (0.5 percent addition) showed 80 percent reduction in maximum crack width and up to 90 percent reduction in average crack width. Concrete reinforced with 0.5 percent polypropylene or cellulose fibers was as effective as 0.25 percent steel fibers or wire mesh reinforced concrete (about 70 percent reduction in maximum and average crack width). Other properties, such as free (unrestrained) shrinkage and compressive strength were also investigated.