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Open Access

ARTICLE

The Performance of Reinforced Concrete Tunnel Linings, with and without Fibers, after Twenty Years of Service

Mustapha Hatoum1, Alessandro P. Fantilli1,*, Bernardino Chiaia1, Georgios Kalamaras2
1 Departement of Structural, Building, and Geotechnical Engineering/Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
2 AK Ingegneria Geotecnica Srl, Torino, Italy
* Corresponding Author: Alessandro P. Fantilli. Email: email
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative and Sustainable Materials for Reinforced Concrete Structures)

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring https://doi.org/10.32604/sdhm.2026.076141

Received 14 November 2025; Accepted 06 February 2026; Published online 30 March 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the contribution of fibers to the durability of reinforced concrete tunnel linings. Two cast-in-situ tunnels are herein analyzed after twenty years of service. Tunnel #1, made with plain concrete and steel rebar, has shown significant spalling at joints between two consecutive tunnel panels, caused by poor workmanship and construction details. Conversely, in Tunnel #2, close to Tunnel #1 on the same motorway, fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) was used in combination with steel rebar. During the service life, the amount of FRC spalled from the cold joints of this lining has been significantly lower than the volume of concrete detached in Tunnel #1, despite the presence of the same type of joint. Thus, the addition of steel fibers to concrete mixtures can increase the material toughness, which in turn reduces concrete spalling. Hence, fiber-reinforcement enhances not only the durability but also the resilience of tunnel linings (i.e., Tunnel #2). Consequently, FRC represents a sustainable solution to extend the service life of structures, and to reduce the costs associated with the maintenance and renovation of tunnel linings.

Keywords

Compressive strength; flexural strength; yield strength; minimum reinforcement; cold joints; concrete spalling; maintenance and repairing costs

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