Basalt?polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete for durable and sustainable pipe production. Part 1: Experimental program

An experimental program consisting in producing and testing reinforced concrete pipes (RCPs) under the three-edge bearing tests considering different types of reinforcement was carried out. Four RCPs were produced, these with: (1) polypropylene macrofibers; (2) basalt microfibers; (3) combination both (hybrid reinforcement); (4) plain concrete. The analysis crack patterns service ultimate mechanical responses allowed concluding that use fibers do not lead to an effective increase first cracking load; however, a better width control respect standard RCP. In this regard, microfiber led response caused by concentrated loads (jacketing) whilst macrofibers increased pipe performance terms capacity flexural control. hybrid fiber found be most suitable alternative for increasing load loads. These incipient results permit conclude type basalt-polypropylene concretes are interesting traditional steel-cage RCPs.