Laboratories conducting beam tests on fiber-reinforced concrete are encouraged to join in the development of a new ASTM International standard—ASTM WK42757, Practice for Design of Supporting Rollers to Be Used in Fiber-reinforced Concrete Beam Tests.
According to ASTM member Stefan Bernard, the new standard is being developed in response to concerns over possible distortions in the magnitude of performance data obtained in beam tests on fiber-reinforced concrete and increases in variability between labs. The new standard works to ensure testing labs use a consistent design of supporting rollers; this should hopefully reduce variations between labs.
“The principle application for the proposed standard will be testing of fiber-reinforced concrete and, in particular, assessment of post-cracking flexural strength,” says Bernard. “Fiber-reinforced concrete is used in floors, pavements, shotcrete, and tunnel structures.” Bernard notes contractors and infrastructure owners will be the main customers for test data generated by the standard. Design professionals will be the indirect beneficiaries.
ASTM WK42757 is being developed by Subcommittee C09.42 on Fiber-reinforced Concrete, part of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates. All interested parties—particularly labs that can participate in round-robin testing to assess variability—are invited to participate in the ongoing development of the new standard.
