Early-age Cracking Control on Concrete with Polypropylene Fiber

Fiber reinforcement, which can restrain the propagation of micro-cracking, is effective in improving the early-age cracking resistance of concrete. Polypropylene fibers have been extensively used in practical engineering due to its superior properties such as lightweight and superior fracture performance. In this chapter, early-age cracking control on concrete with polypropylene fiber was investigated. The results showed that the addition of polypropylene fiber decreased the early-age autogenous shrinkage and cracking potential of concrete, and decreased the early-age basic tensile creep behavior of concrete under a constant tensile load. The increase of the length of polypropylene fiber increased the cracking potential of concrete. Models for early-age autogenous shrinkage and specific tensile creep of concrete with polypropylene fiber were proposed.