Mechanical and Piezoresistive Properties of Fibre Reinforced Concrete Pavement

Abstract

Multifunctional Cementitious Composite (MCC) characteristics are directly related to the type and dosage of the Electrically Conductive Materials (ECMs) reinforcing the relevant concrete matrices. This study investigated the electro-mechanical capacities of concrete pavement (FRCP) with and without the addition of micro scale-carbon fibre (CF12). The mechanical and self-sensing responses of RFCP under indirect tension stress were evaluated initially; then, the effects of 0.5% and 1% content by volume of CF12 on the piezoresistivity capacities of FRCP under compressive load. These types of loads are the most common forces acting to continuously deteriorate rigid pavement. The test findings showed that adding CF12 improved the conductivity and reduced the resistivity of the concrete mixture and reduced polarisation time to on the order of zero seconds. Under indirect tension, however, the use of 1% by volume macro end hook steel fibre (S) resulted in a decrease in electrical resistivity, which was opposite to the expected change, and which suggested that a conductive network built from steel fibre cannot detect changes due to applied loads correctly. However, the CF-reinforced concrete pavement with 1% content by volume succeeded in identifying electrical resistivity changes. Moreover, the developed FRCP showed good results in terms of self-sensing under compression loads with both 0.5 and 1.0% by volume of CF. The results also showed that the use of a hybrid fibre (CF12 0.5% and S 1% by volume) enhanced the indirect tensile strength and compression strength due to CF12’s resistance to micro-cracks.