Development of Concrete Mixture for Spun-Cast Full-Scale Precast Concrete Pipes Incorporating Bundled Steel and Polypropylene Fibers

Abstract

Spin casting is the oldest method of manufacturing precast concrete pipes among all existing methods. While improved concrete mixtures incorporating fibers for other methods of concrete pipe manufacturing, such as the vibration method and roller compaction method, have been developed, no such concrete mixture has yet been developed for spun-cast concrete pipes. This study was designed to explore the possibility of incorporating locally manufactured steel fibers and commercially available polypropylene fibers to develop an improved concrete mixture for use in the manufacturing of full-scale spun-cast concrete pipes. The used steel fibers were of two types, i.e., straight and bundled steel fibers, manufactured by cutting locally available long straight and bundled steel wires, respectively. Various dosages of steel fibers (i.e., 20, 30, 40, and 50 kg/m3) and polypropylene fibers (i.e., 5, 10, 15, and 20 kg/m3) were used in mono and hybrid (steel and polypropylene) forms. The properties in the fresh state and mechanical properties of the test mixtures were investigated. Full-scale spun-cast concrete pipes having a 450 mm internal diameter were manufactured and tested using the three-edge bearing test. The compressive strength of the mixtures was largely insensitive to the dosage of the fibers. The splitting tensile strength of all fiber-reinforced concrete mixtures was higher than that of the reference mixture without fibers, with a 24% increase recorded for the concrete mixture incorporating 50 kg/m3 of bundled steel fibers relative to the reference mixture with no fibers. The flexural performance of the fiber-reinforced concrete mixtures was superior to that of the reference mixture without fibers in terms of flexural strength, toughness, residual strength, and crack control, with up to 28% higher flexural strength relative to the reference mixture without fibers. The three-edge bearing tests on full-scale spun-cast pipes incorporating steel fibers showed that the use of fibers is a promising alternative to the traditional steel cage in spun-cast concrete pipes.