Evaluation of Autogenous Shrinkage and Thermal Behavior of Cellulose Fiber and Synthetic Fiber Reinforced High-Strength Concrete
Abstract
High-strength concrete (HSC) can encounter challenges such as cracking during the hardening process, primarily attributed to early-age shrinkage. One strategy to mitigate shrinkage involves introducing various materials into the concrete mix. This study sought to evaluate the addition of cellulose fiber (CF), glass fiber (GF), and polypropylene fiber (PPF) on the autogenous shrinkage and thermal behavior of high-strength concrete. When comparing HSC with fiber and HSC without fiber, the results indicated that the addition of GF, particularly at a 1% proportion, could decrease shrinkage by 69.9%, yielding the most effective reduction in shrinkage. CF also exhibited shrinkage reduction benefits at a 1% fiber ratio, decreasing shrinkage by 39.7%, while PPF performed well with a 0.5% fiber addition, decreasing shrinkage by 24.4%. The thermal behavior of HSC showed a peak at approximately 160°C across all three samples, and fibers could decrease the internal pore pressure, boosting their effectiveness as an additive to mitigate spalling at elevated temperatures.