Dr. Abolmaali has received a 1-year $96,000 research grant from BASF Construction Chemicals to study the feasibility of macrosynthetic and steel fibers as alternative reinforcements in precast concrete structures. BASF Construction Chemicals is a leading supplier of fiber reinforcement technologies and concrete admixtures. BASF's MasterFiber™ MAC series of macrosynthetic fiber products are manufactured from a proprietary blend of polypropylene resins specially formulated to produce high tensile strength fibers. These fibers are known for their superior flexural performance, tight crack control, and settlement crack control.

The experimental testing program will include both material and full-scale structural tests on concrete precast structures of different sizes. Both displacement and load control tests will be employed to meet the project's testing needs. It is anticipated that different behavioral modes will be observed by using BASF fibers when compared with conventional reinforced concrete precast structures, which could enhance their long term structural performance. Ms. Ashley Wilson will be the lead graduate student on this project.