PS2 • PART 2: SYNTHETIC FIBER REINFORCEMENT FOR PRECAST

Friday, Feb. 19 9:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

PART 2: SYNTHETIC FIBER REINFORCEMENT FOR PRECAST

Daniel Biddle, FORTA Corp. Robert Grace, FORTA Corp.

Synthetic fibers were introduced to the U.S. construction market in 1978 as a revolutionary way to control cracking and add other desirable benefits to a wide variety of concrete applications. One of the first uses of synthetic fibers was in precast products to reduce shrinkage cracking, add toughness, and reduce production costs as a possible replacement for conventional, non-structural steel reinforcements. First-generation synthetic fibers were typically used in relatively low dosages as a secondary, temperature-related crack-controlling material. Now these fibers have morphed into longer, coarser shapes and configurations, and are used in much higher dosages. These second-generation fibers have enjoyed widespread use in many precast product applications to improve performance, reduce production time, and economically reinforce vaults, tanks, wall panels, manholes and many other products.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe three-dimensional fiber advantages over single-plane conventional reinforcements
• Discuss various successful precast applications with synthetic fibers
• Employ a "4-Cs Fiber Characteristic Formula" to compare different fiber types, make-ups, dosages, and predict the resulting changes to performance