Title: Drying Shrinkage of Concrete Reinforced with Fibers and Welded-Wire Fabric

Author(s): Thomas Voigt, Van K. Bui, and Surendra P. Shah

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 101

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 233-241

Keywords: cracking; drying shrinkage; fiber-reinforced concrete; welded-wire fabric.

DOI: 10.14359/13119

Date: 5/1/2004

Abstract:
The research presented in this paper compares the performance of different fiber types, fiber blends, and welded-wire fabric (WWF) in their ability to prevent and control drying-shrinkage cracking. Restrained shrinkage ring tests were conducted on fiber-reinforced concrete mixtures to determine the age of the first visible crack and maximum crack width. Results for various steel and polypropylene fibers in diverse fiber volumes and shapes are compared with plain concrete and concrete reinforced with WWF. The WWF is not effective in prolonging the age of the first crack but does reduce the maximum crack width. The effectiveness of steel and polypropylene fibers in reducing crack width and increasing the age of first cracking depends on the type of fiber. Commonly used parameters such as volume of fibers, number of fibers, and aspect ratio did not uniquely explain the effectiveness of the fibers. A novel model that equally accounts for the influence of all constituents of a composite on its properties is used and extended to describe the shrinkage cracking behavior of the tested materials.