Steel fiber reinforced concrete pipes are currently used as an alternative to conventional steel reinforced concrete pipes in some regions of the world, such as Europe and Australia. However, there are concerns with corrosion of the steel fibers as larger cracks develop in the pipes. An extensive five-year research program was carried out at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) to evaluate synthetic polypropylene macrofibers as an alternative reinforcement for concrete pipes. The research was performed through collaborations with the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) and its members, and BASF Construction Chemicals. A performance-based ASTM Specification, ASTM C1818 Specification for Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Concrete Culvert, Storm Drain, and Sewer Pipe, was developed as a result of the UTA research. The new standard describes a technically strong and durable reinforcement option that can be used for underground piping. Synthetic fiber is required to be prequalified for use in concrete pipes through long-term testing to show that the long-term serviceability factor, α, has a value of 0.90 or higher.
(Article published in CPI.)
