Macro Synthetic Fibres – Potential Uses in Pavements [MSFRC]

Presentation Overview

• What are Macro Synthetic Fibres
• Review of Current Practice (Global, National, Domestic & SRAs/DoTs)
• Current and potential applications
• Recommendations

What are Macro Synthetic Fibres?

• Available commercially since the early 2000s
• Intended to be used as a replacement for steel mesh reinforcement and not for structural steel design.
• Manufactured from polymeric material such as polyolefin e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene, polyester, nylon, pva, polyacrylic, aramids and blends of them.
• Fibre classification:
  • Class Ia: < 0.3 mm diameter, mono-filamented
  • Class Ib: < 0.3 mm diameter, fibrillated
  • Class II: > 0.3 mm diameter
• Tensile strength of polymers range from 100 – 650 MPa
• Elastic Modulus of 2 – 10 GPa
• Dosage rates range from 2 – 10 kg/m3