An Experimental Study on the Properties of Concrete and Fiber-Reinforced Concrete in Rigid Pavements

Abstract

The complex effect of the amount of cement, polypropylene fiber (the fiber length was 39 mm, and the diameter was 0.45 mm), and polycarboxylate superplasticizer on concrete properties for rigid pavement was determined using the methods of experiment planning and experimental–statistical modeling. The fluidity of all the mixtures was S1. The W/C of the mixtures depended on the composition of the concrete and variable from 0.32 to 0.46. It was found that, by increasing the amount of superplasticizer from 1% to 1.8–2%, the compressive strength of concrete increased by 4.5–6 MPa after 3 days and by 7–9 MPa after 28 days. The flexural strength in this case increased by 0.6–0.9 MPa. The use of polypropylene fiber in the amount of 1.5–1.8 kg/m3 increased the compressive strength of concrete by an average of 3 MPa, increased the flexural strength by 0.5–0.6 MPa, reduced the abrasion capacity by 9–14%, and increased the frost resistance by up to 50 cycles. When using a rational amount of superplasticizer and fiber, the compressive strength of concrete, even with a minimum cement amount of 350 kg/m3, was at least 65 MPa, its flexural strength was at least 6 MPa, its frost resistance was F200, and its abrasion capacity was not more than 0.30 g/cm2. Concrete with such properties can be used for roadways of any type. Low abrasion capacity and high frost resistance provide the necessary durability of concrete for rigid pavement during operation.