Title: Performance Characteristics and Applications of High-Performance Polyolefin Fiber Reinforced Concretes

Author(s): V. Ramakrishan

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 171

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 671-692

Keywords: Bridge decks; construction; fiber-reinforced concrete; fibers; flexural strength; impact strength; pavements; performance; resurfacing; toughness.

DOI: 10.14359/6122

Date: 8/1/1997

Abstract:
This paper presents the performance characteristics of a newly developed polyolefin fiber-reinforced concrete. The polyolefin fibers were used for the first time for a full-depth pavement, a thin bridge-deck overlay, a jersey barrier, white-topping on scarified asphalt pavement, and a full-depth bridge deck slab. An attempt is made to assess, evaluate and appreciate the behavior of the polyolefin fiber-reinforced concrete. The performance of fresh concretes and the properties of hardened concretes with and without fibers are compared. A comparison is also made between the non-metallic polyolefin fiber-reinforced concrete and steel fiber-reinforced concrete. The test program on fresh concrete included: slump, concrete temperature, air content, vebe time, and unit weight. The hardened concrete properties included: compressive strength, static modulus, modulus of rupture, load-deflection curves, first crack toughness strength and post crack behavior, ASTM toughness indices, Japanese toughness index, equivalent flexural strength, fatigue strength and impact strength. The polyolefin fibers performed well in the mixing operation without causing any balling or segregation. Hardened concrete properties such as, fatigue strength, impact strength, modulus of rupture, ductility and toughness were greatly improved over the plain and steel fiber-reinforced concrete. The mixture proportions used, the procedure used for mixing, transporting, placing, consolidating, finishing, and curing during the construction of highway structures are described. This new polyolefin fiber-reinforced concrete with enhanced fatigue, impact resistance, modulus of rupture, ductility, and toughness properties is particularly suitable for the construction of thin bridge deck overlays, bridge deck slab and white-topping.