Relationships between mechanical and transport properties for fiber reinforced concrete

This study investigated the mechanical and transport properties of the important factors of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) for the design of durable concrete structures. The fibers that are commonly used in industry, such as 1% steel, 0.5% polypropylene (PP), and 0.75% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers, were evaluated. The addition of PP, PVA, and steel fibers, as they have been known, had little or no effect on compressive and tensile strengths but significantly affected postcracking behaviors and the critical transport mechanisms. The change of the permeable pores seems to depend on the material property of fibers between the fiber and the matrix interface. Among the fiber types used in this study, hook end steel fibers showed the best performance for both the mechanical and transport properties. Generally, as the permeable pore spaces increased, the strength as well as the resistance of transport properties also decreased. However, the effect of the permeable voids on the transport properties was much greater than that of the compressive strength. When the transport properties obtained are employed for the design of durable FRC, major properties such as the permeable voids and absorption by capillary action are important factors to be considered first for resisting movement of harmful substances into concrete.