Graduation Semester and Year
Summer 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
Department
Civil Engineering
First Advisor
Ham, Suyun Paul
Second Advisor
Huang, Haiying
Third Advisor
Chao, Shih-HO
Fourth Advisor
Shahandashti, Mohsen
Abstract
This dissertation presents the mix design of polypropylene SYN-FRC as an alternative to traditional concrete mixtures in construction roadways. The primary scope of work was to develop and implement a pavement system at The University of Texas at Arlington, specifically designed for the Dallas area, to minimize long-term maintenance. Additionally, the project aimed for expeditious construction to avoid traffic closure during new construction and maintenance. It also involved evaluating the pavement performance, providing the City of Dallas with specifications for the mix design of SYN-FRC. The sustainability of the synthetic fiber mix design for concrete roadways, compared to traditional concrete, is demonstrated by the concrete's failure mode, which results in cracks along the pavement.
Firstly, synthetic polypropylene fibers were introduced in the United States by Dr. Wilson and Dr. Abolmaali. In this research, traditional reinforced concrete pipes were evaluated by applying a load to the pipe under a three-edge bearing test, commonly referred to as the D-load test. The D-load capacity of the pipes was determined by the amount of pressure the pipe could withstand before cracking, known as “D0.01 and is a 1.5 factor of safety of Du1timate.” According to ASTM C1818, Du1timate is the ultimate load beyond
what the pipe can resist, meaning the pipe has been loaded enough that it cracks. After the Ultimate Limit is reached, the pipe is still able to deflect without collapsing due to the synthetic fiber reinforcement.
Secondly, synthetic fiber-reinforced concrete pipes SYN-FRC cracked at the ultimate loading point, thereby meeting the standards in ASTM C1818 and resulting in no cracks during service application (Dr. Wilson and Dr. Abolmaali). In further research on synthetic fibers, the tests included tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexural strength, based on the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards C1609 and C39.
Finally, the dosage of SYN-FRC was critical in developing this mix design, requiring multiple trial tests. The evaluation of low, medium, and high dosages of fibers has been thoroughly conducted to determine the adequate number of fibers based on the mix design. Low dosage consists of 3.0 to 4.0 lb./cu yd of synthetic fibers added to conventional jointed pavement designs, offering an element of crack control to improve toughness. A medium dosage is 4.0 to 7.0 lb./cu yd of synthetic fibers, which increases the spacing between control joints, making it valid. The high dosage is 7.5 lb./cu yd or higher of synthetic fibers, which significantly increases joint spacing, as well as consideration of joint-free pavements. The selection of 8 lb./cu yd of synthetic fiber performance was most dependable and met the standards during the trial mixture. The compatibility of synthetic fibers with other concrete additives, such as silica fumes, can also present challenges. Depending on the chemical composition and interactions between the fibers and these admixtures, the resulting concrete may exhibit reduced compressive strength, increased permeability, or other undesirable characteristics.
Keywords
SYN-FRC – Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Concrete, RC – Reinforced Concrete, ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials, SEM – Scanning Electron Microscopy, EDX – Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, PCY – Pounds per Cubic Yard, ACI – American Concrete Institute, RC – Reinforced Concrete, CRC – Concrete Fiber Reinforced Concrete Pavement
Disciplines
Civil Engineering | Structural Engineering
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
High, Kentesha L., "THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE SYNTHETIC FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE MIX DESIGN WITH LOW MAINTENANCE COST" (2025). Civil Engineering Dissertations. 526.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/civilengineering_dissertations/526