Analysis and Experimental Statistical Modeling of the Composition Effect on the Frozen Resistance of Fibre Concrets for Road Pavements
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In the climatic conditions of Ukraine, the most destructive effect on the structure of concrete pavements of hard roads is the repeated cycles of freezing and thawing. In this work, the effectiveness of the inclusion of dispersed reinforcement fibers to increase the frost resistance of plasticizer-modified fiber-reinforced concrete was experimentally investigated. Concrete mixes with a Portland cement content of 300 kg/m3. to 380 kg/m3 were used. Dispersed reinforcement was carried out using Fiber X Mesh synthetic microfibers made of oriented polypropylene copolymer in the form of twisted hard fibers with a length of 39 mm. The fiber content varied from 0 to 3.0 kg/m3. The concrete mixtures were modified with a lignosulfonate-based plasticizer Sika® Plastiment®-1230. The plasticizer content varied from 0.6 to 1.0% of the cement weight. The compositions of the experimental mixtures were adjusted considering the need to provide their equal mobility S1 (at OK = 2 - 3 cm). Experimental studies were conducted according to a 3-factor optimal plan. The dimensions, weight, and compressive strength of the control samples of fiber-reinforced concrete and samples after freezing and thawing were determined. The results of the experimental data made it possible to assess the effect of the composition of concrete mixtures on the frost resistance of cement concrete pavements. The results showed that fiber concrete compares favorably with unreinforced concrete, having about 50 cycles more frost resistance compared to it. Increasing the amount of Sika® Plastiment®-1230 plasticizer from 0.6 to 0.9-1.0% of the cement weight also has a positive effect on the frost resistance level. The frost resistance of concrete increases by about 50 cycles when the dosage of Portland cement is increased from 300 to 360-380 kg/m3. The obtained experimental results make it possible to conclude that the dispersed reinforcement and plasticizer modification of concrete play a significant role in their ability to resist frost damage when used in road construction. The experimental and statistical modeling allowed selecting the optimal compositions of modified fiber concrete. The use of concretes with such compositions will allow obtaining high technical and economic efficiency when used in cement concrete pavements of highways.
Authors: O.I. Lapina, O.I. Finohenov
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409107797