Macrosynthetic
fibers played an important reinforcing role in the $9 million expansion project
at the Erie Art Museum in Erie, PA. The museum owner's desire for an
eye-catching and joint-free floor surface for their 10,000 sq. ft. addition
prompted concrete contractor Tom Maya to submit high-volume macrosynthetic fibers
as an alternate to the specified matt-steel reinforcement. Based on previous
macro-fiber experiences, Maya felt fibers offered the best opportunity to
minimize joints and cracking on the high-profile gallery floor.
Critical
to success however, would be the fibers' ability to mix and distribute
uniformly and finish well, even at the high dosages required (7.5 lbs.cu.yd.),
while not affecting the aesthetics of the grind-and-polish surface treatment.
While the results speak for themselves, the FORTA-FERRO® macrosynthetic fiber
succeeded in controlling shrinkage, cracking, and curling in the large and
irregularly shaped joint-free floor sections. The final
floor finish was impressive enough to cause concern by museum curators that the
floor might actually divert attention from the gallery exhibitions.
The floor system
included a 1 1/2" thick fiber-reinforced mud matt required due to poor
sub-grade conditions, and topped with a 5" thick concrete floor separated
by a double slip-sheet to allow for possible movement. The
floor was comprised of a 3,000 psi high-performance exposed-aggregate concrete,
that involved a 5-step grind-and-polish process. Grinding contractor Diamond
Designer Concrete of Erie plans to use the project as a showcase reference for
their fiber-reinforced, polished-floor system.
For more information, please visit: www.forta-ferro.com
