Steel and synthetic types of fibre reinforced concrete exposed to chemical erosion

This research paper have evaluated the performance of durability of fibre-reinforced concrete through various test methods exposed to pH 4.5 solutions for 27 months with uncracked and precracked beams. The structural fibres used in this study were hooked end steel, polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres and the strong acid solutions were simulated with acetic acid at the laboratory. The evaluation methods for durability performance subsequent to conditioning included ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), carbonation, residual strength and toughness. The additional tests such as absorption, permeability and diffusion for transport properties of harmful materials were performed. The experimental results showed significant reductions in both residual strength and toughness were found against low pH solutions, as well as the analysis of ultra-pulse velocity (UPV) and carbonation for all fibre mixtures. Consequently, in case of steel fibre-reinforced concrete indicating good resistance to the movement of harmful materials into concrete have excellent durability performance and then PVA, PP fibres in sequence. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.