Title:
Corrosion of Steel Reinforcement in Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concrete Structures
Author(s):
Abdul Hamid J. Al-Tayyib and Mesfer M. -Al Zahrani
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
87
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
108-113
Keywords:
absorption; corrosion; cracking (fracturing); curing; electrical resistance; fiber reinforced concretes; permeability; polypropylene fibers; reinforcing steels; water; Materials Research
DOI:
10.14359/1895
Date:
3/1/1990
Abstract:
Adding polypropylene fibers (0.2 percent by volume of concrete) to concrete mixes enhances the properties of both fresh and hardened concretes. This paper presents results on the effect of polypropylene fiber reinforcement in retarding the corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete, as a result of improving the durability performance of the concrete embedding the steel reinforcement. Reinforced concrete slabs of different water-cement ratios of 0.45, 0.55, and 0.65, made with and without polypropylene fibers, were subjected to severe corrosion-initiating conditions and their resistance to corrosion was monitored for a period of more than 7 months. The effect of adding polypropylene fibers was also studied on some properties of the concrete that closely relate to the corrosion of reinforcing steel. These include electrical resistivity, water absorption, and permeability of concrete. The results indicate that polypropylene fiber reinforcement has no noticeable effect in retarding corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete. Also, the results of the electrical resistivity, water absorption, and permeability tests do not show any significant improvement due to the inclusion of polypropylene fibers.