Anew standard that will facilitate post-crack performance measurement for fibre-reinforced concrete intended for slabs-on-grade, pavements, pre-cast elements and shotcrete has been approved by the ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organisations in the world.

The standard was approved the ASTM’s Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates.
This test method evaluates the flexural performance of fibre-reinforced concrete using parameters derived from the load-deflection curve obtained by testing a simply supported beam under third-point loading using a closed-loop, servo-controlled testing system.
“C 1609/C 1609M will be prescribed by design engineers and used by test laboratories to test fibre-reinforced concrete on contract to construction contractors,” says Stefan Bernard, C09 member and director, Technologies in Structural Engineering.
Bernard says other users will include fibre manufacturers working to improve their product and research labs investigating fibre-reinforced concrete.
Post-crack parameters listed in C 1018 – Test Method for Flexural Toughness and First-Crack Strength of Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (Using Beam with Third-Point Loading) are routinely specified as performance requirements for fibre-reinforced shotcrete tunnel lining projects.
However, C 1609/C 1609M will now be considered the preferred test method to measure post-cracking performance requirements.