ACI 544.2R

Abstract

<strong>INTRODUCTION</strong> <br>This report applies to conventionally mixed and placed fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) or fiber reinforced shotcrete (FRS) using steel, glass, polymeric, and natural fibers. It does not relate to thin glass fiber reinforced cement or mortar products produced by the spray-up process. The Prestressed Concrete Institute, ¹ Glassfibre Reinforced Cement Association,² and ASTM have prepared recommendations for test methods for these spray-up materials. <br>The use of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) has passed from experimental small-scale applications to routine factory and field applications involving the placement of many hundreds of thousands of cubic yards annually throughout the world. This has created a need to review existing test methods and develop new methods, where necessary, for determining the properties of FRC. These methods are presented in an effort to standardize procedures and equipment so that test results from different sources can be compared effectively. While it is recognized that the use of procedures and equipment other than those discussed in this report may be employed because of past practices, availability of equipment, etc., use of nonstandard tests does not promote the development or broadening of the data base needed to quantify consistently properties of the various forms of FRC. To date, some progress on standardization of test methods has been made in North America by ASTM and similar organizations outside North America, but greater efforts are needed, as is indicated in this report. <br>Although most of the test methods described in this report were developed initially for steel fiber reinforced concrete, they are applicable to concretes reinforced with glass, polymeric, and natural fibers, except when otherwise noted. <br>The test methods described in this report may in some cases lead to difficulties or problems in obtaining meaningful results. In these instances, Committee 544 welcomes information on the problems and any modification of equipment or procedures that provides more meaningful results. This is of particular interest where tests developed initially for steel FRC are used to measure properties of concretes containing other fibers, such as glass, polymeric, or natural fibers.