Effect of Waste PET Fiber on the Mechanical Properties and Chloride Ion Penetration of Emergency Repair Concrete for Road Pavement

This study evaluated the effects of adding waste PET fibers on the mechanical properties and chloride ion penetration of latex-modified ultra-rapid hardening cement concrete used for emergency road pavement repairs. The primary experimental variable was the content of waste PET fibers. The mechanical properties of the concrete were evaluated through compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength tests. Its durability was evaluated through chloride ion penetration, surface resistivity, and abrasion resistance tests. The experimental results were compared with the quality standards for emergency repair concrete set by the Korea Expressway Corporation. As a result, this study has enhanced the strength and resistance to chloride ions of latex-modified concrete by incorporating waste PET fibers. In the mixture with 3.84 kg/m³ of waste PET fibers, the compressive strength was 29.9 MPa at 4 h and 42.5 MPa at 28 curing days. The flexural strength was 6.0 MPa at 4 curing hours and 7.0 MPa at 28 days, and the splitting tensile strength was 4.5 MPa at 28 days of curing. The chloride ion permeability amount and abrasion depth were 1081C and 0.82 mm, respectively. The mixture with 3.84 kg/m³ of waste PET fibers has superior compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, chloride ion penetration, and surface resistivity compared to the mixture with 7.68 kg/m³. This result means that the waste PET fibers caused poor dispersion and fiber-balling within the concrete, leading to loose internal void structures when incorporated at 3.84 kg/m³. However, the abrasion resistance test showed better results for the mixture with 7.68 kg/m³ of waste PET fibers than the 3.84 kg/m³ mixture. Therefore, the test results indicated that 3.84 kg/m³ of waste PET fibers is the most effective for latex-modified concrete used in emergency road pavement repairs.