The alkali-silica reaction (ASR) produces an expansive gel that may cause c
racking and displacement in concrete structures. Steel microfibers ranging
from 1% to 7% by volume of cement mortar were incorporated to reduce the ex
pansion and cracking. All specimens contained 5% of opal by weight of fine
aggregates. The samples were cast and tested according to ASTM C-1260. A co
nsiderable reduction in expansion was observed for all steel microfiber-rei
nforced mortar specimens compared to the control specimens without fibers.
The higher the fiber volume fraction, the lower the expansion. At constant
fiber volume fraction, the expansion was further reduced when the curing ti
me was extended from 1 day to 7 days due to an increase in the fiber-matrix
interfacial bond strength. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser
ved.