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Barcelona test: method used to determine the residual strength and toughness of our fibers

One of the control methods that we use to determine the residual resistance and toughness of our fibers is the @Ensayo Barcelona, ​​developed by researchers at the @Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña.

In this test (adapted for both cylindrical and cubic specimens of 150 mm), the specimen is subjected to an indirect tensile stress state by applying a vertical point load transmitted by two punches placed on two opposite faces, registering the descent of the piston depending on the applied load (Figures 6 a and b).

The Barcelona Test is an alternative (or complementary) test to the notched beam test. This test is especially interesting and recommended for quality control during production, particularly in works in which there are large volumes of concrete involved and it is required to control the investment costs in control tests (maintaining statistical representativeness) and to reduce the dispersion of the essays. Among the main advantages we can name:

  • The dispersion of the results is less, and therefore the number of discarded lots is reduced and the characteristic values of the residual resistance are increased (Figure 6 c).
  • It is a faster and cheaper test compared to the notched beam test.
  • It can be carried out in any quality control laboratory, since only a conventional press is required to carry out compression tests.
  • It can be correlated with the beam test and, therefore, establish the Barcelona test as the reference test during production control