Flexural fatigue performance of PVA macrofibre reinforced concrete in rigid airport pavements

This study investigated the mechanical performance of Portland cement concrete (PCC) reinforced with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) macrofibres, with a particular focus on enhancing fatigue resistance in rigid airport pavements. The experimental program comprised flexural fatigue tests under a four-point loading configuration, as well as compressive and flexural strength tests. Concrete mixes containing 0.0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% fibre content were evaluated. While the incorporation of fibres reduced the workability of fresh concrete—evidenced by a decrease in slump—it did not lead to significant improvements in static strength. In contrast, fatigue performance was markedly improved, with the 1.0% fibre mix achieving over one million load cycles at a stress level (S) of 0.6. A two-parameter Weibull distribution well fitted the fatigue life results. A case study based on a real pavement project of the Brazilian Air Force demonstrated that using fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) could potentially enable a reduction in slab thickness of up to 8.7% without compromising design life from a structural fatigue perspective. These findings demonstrate the potential of PVA macrofibres to enhance the durability and structural efficiency of PCC in airport pavement applications.