Steel Fibre Concrete Pavements: Thinner and More Durable

Abstract

Recently, considerable interest has been generated in the use of Steel Fibre Reinforced - Concrete (SFRC). The most significant influence of the incorporation of steel fibres in concrete is to delay and control the tensile cracking of the composite material. This positively influences mechanical properties of concrete. These improved properties result in SFRC being a feasible material for concrete road pavements. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the use of SFRC for road pavements and compare its performance to plain concrete under traffic loading. The influence of SFRC properties on performance and design aspects of concrete roads are discussed. Results from road trial sections, tested under in-service traffic, are used to validate the use of the material in roads. Performance and behaviour of a SFRC test section is compared to a plain concrete section. The performance of thinner SFRC ground slabs is found comparable to thicker plain concrete slabs. A design approach for SFRC is recommended in which an existing method for the design of plain concrete slabs is extended by incorporating the post-cracking strength of SFRC.