THE EFFECT OF FIBER AND POLYMER MODIFIER ON THE PROPERTIES OF ROLLER COMPACTED CONCRETE (RCC)

Abstract

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of the influence of polypropylene fiber and polymer modifier M10+50 on the physical and mechanical characteristics of roller compacted concrete (RCC), which is becoming increasingly popular in road construction due to its cost-effectiveness and high technological efficiency. The relevance of the work is due to the growing requirements for strength, durability, and crack resistance of road pavements operated under conditions of heavy traffic loads. The authors justify the choice of two types of modifiers - Fibermesh 150 polypropylene fiber and a polymer emulsion based on acrylic vinyl acetate copolymer and analyze the peculiarities of their action in the RCC structure. Experimental studies have shown that the introduction of polypropylene fiber ensures a stable increase in compressive and flexural strength at all stages of hardening, improves the energy characteristics of destruction, and effectively reduces the formation of shrinkage microcracks. Although the polymer modifier slightly reduces the initial strength, it significantly improves the structure of concrete, reducing its water absorption and increasing its crack resistance. It has been shown that the combined use of polymer and fiber creates a synergistic effect: the polymer compacts the structure, while the fiber compensates for the loss of strength and enhances crack resistance. As a result, it was possible to obtain concrete with characteristics that exceed the control composition in a number of operationally important parameters. The effect of modifiers on the modulus of elasticity, brittleness criterion, average density, moisture content, and water absorption of RCC was studied separately. The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of the combined modification of RCC and indicate the feasibility of its use in road structures with increased performance requirements. The proposed approach allows for increased crack resistance, wear resistance, and load-bearing capacity of rolled concrete, ensuring economically justified reinforcement of road pavements in modern operating conditions.