The Effects of Single and Hybrid Polypropylene Fibers on the Workability and Residual Strength Properties of Concrete Road Pavements Against Freeze–thaw Cycles

Abstract

This study mainly examines the slump, mass loss (ML), abrasion loss (AL), residual compressive strength (RCS), and residual splitting tensile strength (RSTS) of concrete reinforced with micro- and macro-polypropylene (PP) fibers after the F–T process. In the blends, micro- and macro-PP fibers were added to the blends at 0.3%, 0.6%, and 1% by volume. In total, 25, 50, 100, and 150 F–T cycles were applied to all samples. The study’s results show that micro- and macro-PP fibers negatively affect the blends' slump values. Besides, PP fibers did not contribute to reducing the ML values of the samples after the F–T process. Moreover, the contribution of the PP fibers in prohibiting the decrease in RCS capacities of specimens after the F–T process is valid up to 0.3% volumetric fiber content. Additionally, PP fibers were more efficient in hindering reductions in AL and RSTS capacities after the F–T process of the specimens. Furthermore, using macro-PP fibers in hybrid form with micro-PP fibers reduced AL and improved RCS and RSTS capacities more than single macro-PP fibers. After 150 F–T processes, the reduction in AL of C0 control concrete was 9.41%, while the declines in AL of C1-C6 samples ranged from 7.56% to 8.92%. In addition, after 150 F–T processes, the decrease in RCS and RSTS loss of C0 control concrete is 25.09% and 28.30%. In contrast, the decline in RCS and RSTS loss of C1-C6 samples varies between 22.94–32.97% and 20.10–25.75%, respectively. © 2023, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.