Water permeability of reinforced concrete structures containing fiber reinforcement

Author(s): C. Desmettre, J.-P. Charron, M. Hubert
Paper category: Workshop
Book title: RILEM International workshop on performance-based specification and control of concrete durability
Editor(s): D. Bjegović, H. Beushausen, M. Serdar
ISBN: 978-2-35158-135-3
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-136-0
Pages: 291 - 299
Total Pages: 9
Language: English

Abstract: 
Most reinforced concrete structures are cracked in service conditions. These cracks contribute to the penetration of air, water and aggressive agents into the concrete, thus promoting concrete and steel reinforcement deterioration. This research project focuses on the improvement of the durability of structures by using fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) and on the proposition of reliable design criteria adapted to these materials. In order to assess durability criteria, cracking and water permeability measurements were performed on tie-specimens produced with various steel fibers content and submitted to a uniaxial tensile loading. The increase of the fiber content in the tie-specimens from 0 %, 0.75 %, 1.5 % to 2 % has led to a decrease of their crack widths in service conditions, and a strong reduction of the water permeability by 31 %, 92 % and 99 % respectively. These results allow suggesting serviceability design criteria adapted to FRC to further optimize FRC structures. The suggested design criteria are used in an example of application. It demonstrates that FRC structures can support higher loads and displacements than conventional reinforced concrete structures for an equivalent level of water permeability in the concrete cover.

Online publication: 2013
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00