Development, characterization, and fundamental investigation of latex-modified steel fiber reinforced concrete. (Volumes I and II)

Latex polymers and steel fibers have complementary actions in concrete. While steel fibers enhance the toughness characteristics and cracking resistance of the material, latex polymers help reduce concrete permeability and increase its durability and adhesion capacity. One may also expect that improved fiber-to-matrix bonding in the presence of latex would enhance the reinforcement efficiency of fibers. Latex may also help resolve potential workability and corrosion problems associated with the use of steel fibers and concrete.;The main thrust of this research was to investigate the mechanisms of joint action of steel fibers and latex polymers in concrete in order to develop latex-modified steel fiber reinforced concretes with balanced improvements in diverse aspects of material properties. Statistically sound methods of experimental design and analysis were adopted in order to ensure the reliability of the research outcomes.;It was concluded that steel fibers and latex polymers interact favorably to produce concrete materials with substantially improved flexural strength and toughness, impact resistance, dimensional stability, freeze-thaw durability and scaling resistance. Furthermore, the corrosion inhibiting effects of latex polymer modification were successfully demonstrated, and it was concluded that the negative effects of steel fibers on the corrosion of embedded steel could be more than compensated for using latex polymers. The corrosion inhibiting action of latex polymers correlated well with its effects on reducing permeability and electrical conductivity of steel fiber reinforced concrete. Through microstructural studies the mechanisms of joint action of steel fibers and latex polymers were investigated and the failure mechanisms in latex-modified steel fiber reinforced concrete were established.;Latex-modified steel fiber reinforced concrete presents a high-performance construction material, with superior physical, mechanical and adhesion qualities, which suits demanding applications such as repair and overlay of the concrete-based infrastructure (e.g., bridges and parking structures) under severe load and environmental effects.