Abstract
This paper presents results of an evaluation of the service life of Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC). The 3 point bending method was used to measure the development of fracture energy. Five different fibre reinforced composites were examined covering cement and concrete matrices reinforced with steel, polypropylene, AR-glass and cellulose fibres. The materials were exposed to different laboratory climates (i.e. a special weather simulator and stable climate) and natural weathering in Denmark. The results show that the development of fracture energy is very much dependent on the ageing and degradation mechanisms in action. Steel and polypropylene FRC show tendencies to an increase in fracture energy with age the first years of the service life of the materials. AR-glass FRC shows decrease in fracture energy with age despite the fact that polymer modification of matrix has been used to prevent embrittlement of the composite. Autoclaved cellulose fibre reinforced cement also show tendencies to decrease in fracture energy due to ageing but with different degradation rate when compared with AR-GFRC. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 862056.
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