| HS Code | 244888 |
| Product Name | SikaFiber 142 |
| Description | Polypropylene macro fibres for concrete and shotcrete |
| Chemical Base | Polypropylene |
| Fiber Type | Macro synthetic fibre |
| Length | 42 mm |
| Diameter | 0.8 mm |
| Aspect Ratio | 52 |
| Tensile Strength | 600 N/mm² |
| Elastic Modulus | 9 GPa |
| Melting Point | 160 °C |
| Density | 0.91 g/cm³ |
| Alkali Resistance | High |
| Corrosion Resistance | Non-corroding |
| Water Absorption | Nil |
| Dosage | 3 - 6 kg/m³ |
| Packaging | 3 kg bags |
| Shelf Life | 24 months |
| Storage Conditions | Store dry, away from direct sunlight, at 5-30 °C |
As an accredited SikaFiber 142 - Polypropylene Macro Fibres for Concrete and Shotcrete factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | SikaFiber 142 for concrete and shotcrete is packaged in 10 kg moisture-resistant paper bags, suitable for direct addition. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | SikaFiber 142 polypropylene macro fibres for concrete and shotcrete, loaded into a 20′ FCL container for shipment. |
| Shipping | SikaFiber 142, polypropylene macro fibres for concrete and shotcrete, is shipped as a non-hazardous, non-regulated product. It is supplied in moisture-resistant bags or boxes, palletized and shrink-wrapped. Store dry at ambient temperature. Standard handling precautions apply; no dangerous-goods labels, placards, or special transport documents are required. |
| Storage | Store SikaFiber 142 in its original, unopened packaging in a clean, dry, well-ventilated area. Protect from moisture, direct sunlight, heat, and contamination. Keep bags sealed and pallets off the ground. Avoid prolonged UV exposure. Maintain moderate ambient temperatures. Observe shelf life and use oldest stock first. Keep away from incompatible materials and ignition sources. Follow label instructions. |
| Shelf Life | SikaFiber 142 shelf life: 24 months from production when stored dry, in unopened original packaging, protected from sunlight. |
In single-shield TBM cross-passage construction and Alpine adit drives, wet-mix shotcrete linings reinforced with SikaFiber 142 are specified not as a direct tensile reinforcement but as a toughness-control layer between the primary rock support actions. The governing product specification for polymer macro fibres is EN 14889-2:2006, which classifies the fibre by length, equivalent diameter, tensile strength and alkali resistance category. The sprayed-concrete application itself is qualified under EN 14487-1, with flexural toughness panels sawn and tested to EN 14488-3:2006. The dosage bandwidth is normally 4.0 kg/m³ to 6.0 kg/m³ for permanent bonded linings and 2.5 kg/m³ to 3.5 kg/m³ for temporary advance support where the concrete is assigned to lower energy absorption classes. Published data for SikaFiber 142-specific pump derating curves is limited; site trials are required when the vertical rise exceeds 30 m or the horizontal line length exceeds 120 m.
Batching sequence is the first critical control point. The 42 mm macro fibre is fed into the skip alongside the coarse aggregate before water and admixture are introduced; if it is charged into the mixer after the paste has become plastic, the hydrophobic polypropylene surface tends to agglomerate into ropes at the discharge gate. In truck-mixer plants, a minimum of 70 dry revolutions followed by 60 wet revolutions is used to achieve single-filament distribution. High-speed pan mixers with 1.5 m³ batches typically require 45–60 s after the fibres are added. Static charge on the dry fibres at relative humidity below 35% can cause balling in the feed hopper; the countermeasure is to add the fibres from an anti-static bulk bag sock directly into the aggregate stream rather than allowing free-fall from a bulk bag frame.
The pumping distance is limited by the interaction between the 42 mm fibre length and the smallest restriction in the delivery circuit, which is typically the 65 mm diameter rubber hose or the 50 mm nozzle body on a robotic manipulator. A clean hose with no internal scoring can pass fibres at dosages up to 6 kg/m³, but if the hose has been used for steel fibre shotcrete and contains internal wire scratches, polypropylene macro fibres can hang and form plugs at the coupling crimps. Contractors therefore inspect the delivery line after every 500 m³ placed and replace the last 20 m of hose when the internal rubber surface shows abrasive wear. At the nozzle, the macro fibre rebounds at a higher proportion than the cement paste because its density is approximately 0.91 g/cm³ and its projected area is large relative to its mass. The installed product types include temporary primary linings in adits and access galleries, permanent secondary linings in cut-and-cover transitions, portal facings, and repair overlays on degraded brick culverts. The operational boundary is that SikaFiber 142 is not a substitute for wire mesh or steel fibres in linings where bending moment demand exceeds the post-crack tensile capacity of the section; structural ribs, spiling and rock bolts remain primary support elements in squeezing ground.
| Application | Conformance standard | Verification parameter | SikaFiber 142 addition band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunnel wet-mix shotcrete | EN 14487-1, EN 14488-3:2006 | Flexural residual strength and energy absorption on sawn panels | 4.0–6.0 kg/m³ |
| Industrial slab-on-grade | ACI 302.1R-15, ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a | Residual strength at L/600 and L/300 | 3.0–5.0 kg/m³ |
| Precast drainage appurtenances | ASTM C478-20, EN 1917:2002 | Demoulding edge integrity and early-age crack control | 2.5–4.0 kg/m³ |
| Intermodal hardstand paving | ACI 330R-08, ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a | Flexural toughness and joint-edge crack control | 3.0–4.5 kg/m³ |
| Municipal wastewater confinement | ACI 350-20, EN 14889-2:2006 | Maximum crack width and residual flexural strength | 3.0–5.0 kg/m³ |
| Mining development shotcrete | ACI 506R-16, ASTM C1116/C1116M | Early re-entry strength and post-crack toughness | 4.0–5.0 kg/m³ |
High-tolerance industrial floors designed for very narrow aisle truck traffic introduce a different constraint: SikaFiber 142 is dosed at 3.0–5.0 kg/m³ to control plastic shrinkage cracking before the first power float pass. The governing floor documents are ACI 302.1R-15 for slab construction and the Concrete Society TR34 for industrial ground floor design. Fibre conformity is assessed to EN 14889-2:2006, and flexural performance is tested by the third-point loading method of ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a, with residual strength recorded at L/600 and L/300 net deflection. The addition ratio is kept below 5.0 kg/m³ because above this value the 42 mm macro fibre density can disrupt the closing action of a power trowel pan in a 0.40 w/c mix, producing surface fibre wicking at the ridge between adjacent trowel passes. The placement train typically consists of a laser screed with auger and vibrating pan, followed by ride-on power trowels fitted with 900 mm or 1,200 mm pans. The screed’s hydraulic profile correction responds to the fibre as if it were a hard aggregate particle, but the fibre’s aspect ratio can cause temporary local dragging if the green surface is cut too early. Batch-to-batch variance in fibre distribution is controlled by dosing through a hydraulic nozzle fed from a bulk bag stand, not by hand-throwing bags into the mixer; the latter produces fibre clusters that become entrained in the upper paste layer and are not dispersed by the standard 30 s blend cycle. On full-scale warehouse placements, surface inspection after 7 days of wet curing has shown exposed fibre ends at the surface only when the curing compound was applied before the bleed water had fully evaporated, trapping moisture at the film interface and delaying surface hardening. Finished product types include ambient logistics hubs, cross-dock terminals, high-bay racking floors, maintenance hangars, and freezer distribution chambers where the polypropylene fibre is chemically inert in low-temperature cycling. Published data for this exact fibre-matrix combination under laser screed conditions is limited; joint-free slabs require project-specific beam test evidence to ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a before the fibre is accepted as a crack-control substitute for steel fabric.
The wet-cast precast process imposes a short reabsorption window for macro fibre crack control: SikaFiber 142 is batched at 2.5–4.0 kg/m³ in manhole ring mixes that are designed for 28-day compressive strength of 35–45 MPa and demoulded at 8–12 h after casting. The applicable conformity specifications are ASTM C478-20 for precast reinforced manhole sections and EN 1917:2002 for traditional or fibre-reinforced concrete manholes. The fibre product itself is qualified to EN 14889-2:2006 Class II because it is used for crack-width control and handling toughness rather than as primary flexural reinforcement. In the carousel production sequence, fibres are added to the planetary mixer after the first 20 s of aggregate–cement dry blending; water is then introduced with a polycarboxylate superplasticizer to produce a 60–80 mm slump mix that can be placed into male/female ring forms without segregation. Vibration time on the external vibrator table is capped at 25 s because the 42 mm fibre has a tendency to migrate away from the form face under prolonged high-frequency vibration, leaving a fibre-poor outer cover. The terminal products are manhole base sections, riser rings, cone sections, cable pulling boxes, catch basin sumps, and drainage chambers that benefit from improved edge retention during sling handling and transport. The limitation is that polypropylene macro fibres do not replace the steel reinforcement cages in structures where earth pressure or live load flexure governs; their function is restricted to early-age edge microcracking control and post-crack crack-mouth resistance.
When intermodal terminal hardstands are poured as continuous strip slabs without steel crack-control fabric, the batch plant controls SikaFiber 142 addition between 3.0 kg/m³ and 4.5 kg/m³. The lower bound is set by the requirement that the residual flexural strength at L/300 exceeds the threshold adopted in the project specification under ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a, while the upper bound prevents surface fibre accumulation from accelerating diamond saw blade wear at the 4.0 m to 6.0 m cut joints. The paving train includes a fixed-form or slipform paver operating at a forward speed of 1.2–2.0 m/min; the auger distribution and longitudinal pan vibration create an orientation bias in the fibres, with a proportion aligned in the direction of forward travel. This bias is not a defect, but it requires the saw-cutting contractor to orient the saw path so that structural fibre bridging at joints is not destroyed by early cutting before the paste matrix reaches 17–20 MPa compressive strength, as assessed by rebound hammer correlation. The relevant design and construction standards are ACI 330R-08 for concrete pavement design and ACI 302.1R-15 for slab placement; fibre product conformity is certified to EN 14889-2:2006. The finished product types are reachstacker lanes, trailer marshalling pads, container crane hardstands, and internal haulage roads within marine terminals. The principal operational boundary is primary aircraft pavement: published data for SikaFiber 142 in foreign object debris-sensitive airport pavements is limited, and the risk of surface fibre pull-out after high-pressure rubber removal is sufficient to exclude the material from primary runway strips unless supported by full-scale surface wear testing.
Activated sludge basin construction places SikaFiber 142 in a different constraint set: the substitution of steel crack-control mesh with macro polypropylene fibre is valid only for shrinkage-dominant zones. The dosage is typically 3.0–5.0 kg/m³, with the exact value dictated by the maximum crack width permitted under ACI 350-20 for liquid-tight concrete. Product-specific conformity assessment is performed to EN 14889-2:2006; residual flexural behaviour is measured by ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a or EN 14651:2005+A1:2007, with notched beam specimens cured in water at 23 ± 2°C until the test age. On site, the wall placement process is the critical control point: formwork is erected in 4.0 m lifts, concrete is placed with a boom pump into 200 mm and 250 mm thick walls, and internal poker vibrators are operated at 8,000–12,000 vpm for no more than 8–10 s per insertion. Over-vibration is prohibited because the density difference between polypropylene and cement paste can cause fibres to float into the top surface of the lift and leave the outer cover with insufficient fibre count. Form release is delayed until the surface has a penetration resistance of 3 MPa, measured with a pocket penetrometer, to prevent fibre pull-out at the form face. Terminal product types include aeration tanks, equalization basins, anoxic and anaerobic selector chambers, secondary containment bunds, and waste-activated sludge thickening basins. The restraint is that aggressive CO₂ and H₂S gas in the headspace requires additional chemical protection; the fibre itself does not prevent microcracking in a poorly cured matrix, and the matrix must still meet the durability exposure class under EN 206.
Underground hard-rock development drifts in narrow-vein deposits impose a different cycle-time constraint: the shotcrete must be sprayed immediately after scaling and mucking, often within 4 h of blasting, while the accelerator dosage is adjusted to achieve early strength gain for re-entry. SikaFiber 142 is dosed at 4.0–5.0 kg/m³ in wet-mix mining shotcrete that is batched at surface, hauled in agitator cars, and sprayed by robotic manipulators with 50–65 mm delivery hoses. The relevant production controls follow ACI 506R-16 for shotcrete construction and ASTM C1116/C1116M Type III for synthetic fibre reinforcement, while shotcrete material qualification falls under EN 14487-1 where European specifications are adopted. The critical process conflict is accelerator compatibility: a high-dose alkali-free accelerator can produce rapid stiffening of the paste but a slower mechanical bond to the hydrophobic polypropylene filament surface. Early re-entry testing with a penetration needle or stud-driving device is therefore used to verify that the lined drift can support the next blast cycle. The terminal products are drift linings, intersection spiders, shaft collar collars, ore-pass linings, and escapeway lining repairs. The operational boundary is that rock bolts and screens remain mandatory for gravity-driven wedge failure; SikaFiber 142 modifies post-crack energy absorption but does not increase the tensile yield strength of the concrete beyond that of the cementitious matrix.
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SikaFiber 142 is a polypropylene macro fibre supplied as discrete individual elements for the reinforcement of cast concrete and shotcrete. The product is classified as a structural macro fibre under the CE marking framework of EN 14889-2:2006, where polymer fibres with an equivalent diameter greater than 0.3 mm and a length typically above 30 mm are separated from micro fibres designed for plastic shrinkage control. The numerical suffix in the product designation corresponds to a nominal fibre length of 42 mm, a geometry selected to provide sufficient embedment length for crack bridging in aggregate matrices with maximum aggregate sizes commonly up to 16–20 mm. Because the base polymer is polypropylene, the material has a density of approximately 0.91 g/cm³, roughly one-eighth of the density of steel fibre. The product is therefore supplied as a low-mass, high-count reinforcement option; a given mass of SikaFiber 142 yields significantly more individual fibres than the same mass of steel fibre, which influences dosing, dispersion, and fibre spacing.
Post-crack performance of a synthetic macro fibre is governed by fibre length, equivalent diameter, surface texture, and the elastic modulus of the polymer. A 42 mm fibre embedded across a crack mobilises load through interfacial shear and mechanical anchorage; when the matrix cracks, fibre pullout consumes energy, while fibre rupture occurs if the anchorage exceeds the tensile resistance of the polymer. Manufacturer-published nominal values for SikaFiber 142 include a tensile strength of approximately 620 MPa and an elastic modulus of approximately 8.5 GPa; these values position the product among higher-modulus polypropylene macro fibres, though the tensile modulus remains more than one order of magnitude below that of structural steel at 200 GPa. The fibre surface is embossed or otherwise profiled to increase the coefficient of friction against cement paste; this is significant because polypropylene is hydrophobic and does not chemically bond to cement hydration products to the same degree as roughened metals. In fibre-reinforced concrete, the post-crack residual strength measured by EN 14651 depends on the number of fibres crossing the crack, their orientation, and the pullout force per fibre.
Controlling fibre dispersion at production scale requires attention to addition sequence and mixer speed. The fibres are usually introduced into the aggregate stream before water or as a whole bag addition into a truck mixer at 18–20 rpm; multi-bag additions to a stationary drum are not recommended. At addition rates above 4 kg/m³, polymer macro fibres may form clumps if the bags are discharged simultaneously. A typical batching sequence extends mixing time by 60–90 seconds after the last bag to allow individual fibre separation. The fibres do not require pre-drying because water absorption is below 0.1% by mass; however, wet or compacted packaging should be rejected because intertwined fibres may remain as agglomerates through the mixing cycle. In ready-mix trucks with drum capacities between 6 m³ and 9 m³, operator batch records should include fibre addition time and total revolutions to ensure traceability for tunnel owner acceptance.
Under EN 14889-2:2006, polymer fibres for structural use are subject to initial type testing, factory production control, and issuance of a Declaration of Performance. The standard separates macro fibres from micro fibres on the basis of geometrical criteria, and the manufacturer declares the intended use as either structural or non-structural. Specification writers should verify that the current product data sheet carries the EN 14889-2:2006 designation and that the Declaration of Performance lists the relevant concrete or shotcrete application. For tunnel shotcrete contracts, fibre acceptance is commonly linked to composite performance rather than isolated fibre properties. Independent shotcrete panels are tested for energy absorption in accordance with EN 14488-5; acceptance values are often expressed as 500 J, 700 J, or 1000 J depending on ground class and support class. A fibre that satisfies its declared individual tensile properties may still fail panel acceptance if the matrix is poorly graded, the nozzle energy is too low, or the mixing time is insufficient.
| Property | SikaFiber 142 nominal | Hooked-end steel fibre typical | Operational consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.91 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ | Fibre count per unit mass is approximately eight times higher for macro polypropylene. |
| Tensile strength | 620 MPa | 1100–1400 MPa | Steel fibre resists fibre rupture at higher load; polypropylene may undergo pullout before rupture. |
| Elastic modulus | 8.5 GPa | 200 GPa | Steel fibre provides higher residual strength at small crack openings; polypropylene fibre permits larger crack movement before significant force. |
| Corrosion response | Inert in alkaline media | Relies on concrete alkalinity for passivation | Macro synthetic fibre does not generate corrosion staining or section loss. |
At water-to-cement ratios between 0.40 and 0.50, polypropylene macro fibres produce only modest changes in compressive strength; the more significant change is a loss of workability when fibre addition exceeds 3 kg/m³. This loss is typically compensated with a polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizer rather than additional water. If the water-to-cement ratio is raised to restore slump, the capillary porosity of the matrix increases, and the fibre-to-matrix shear resistance in the post-crack zone is reduced. Because the fibre is hydrophobic, it does not absorb mixing water; therefore water demand changes are attributed to the network of high-aspect-ratio particles altering fresh-state rheology. Trial mixes should be conducted with the identical aggregate source, mixer type, and fibre dosage used on site.
In wet-process shotcrete, SikaFiber 142 is added at the batching plant or in the transit mixer and then passes through the pump, hose, nozzle, and air injection point. The 42 mm fibre length is typically compatible with pump hose diameters down to 50 mm when the aggregate grading is continuous and the concrete is well-lubricated. In dry-process shotcrete, the fibre is introduced at the hopper or through a separate dosing line to the nozzle; low-density fibres can segregate or rebound if the air stream is excessively turbulent. Nozzle operator technique must therefore be adjusted for fibre-reinforced dry mix: the distance from the substrate should be kept within the manufacturer’s recommended range, and the nozzle should be held at an angle that reduces fibre ricochet. Dosage is determined by performance-based trial because the energy absorption of a sprayed panel is not linearly related to fibre content alone. At dosages above 6 kg/m³, the fibre network may reduce pumpability; an increase in plasticizer dosage is preferred over an increase in water, because adding water would lower the final matrix strength and alter the cement-to-fibre bond.
Differences in specific gravity produce different behaviour in transit and pumping. Steel fibre tends to settle in low-viscosity concrete, while polypropylene macro fibre remains more evenly distributed due to a density close to that of cement paste. This reduces segregation under vibration but does not eliminate the possibility of fibre balls if the fibres are dropped too rapidly into the mixer. Shotcrete contractors have observed that dry-mix hoppers may develop static charge accumulation on polypropylene fibre, particularly in low-humidity conditions; discharging points should be earthed to prevent electrostatic clumping. Water-soluble bags can be added directly to the mixer; the bag material disperses during mixing and does not create hydration defects. Because polypropylene fibres are flexible, they produce less wear on screw conveyors, pump stators, and nozzle tips than steel fibre; however, the lower hardness does not remove the need for regular pump maintenance, because the fibre network can increase back pressure at high addition rates.
Direct substitution of steel fibre by an equal mass of SikaFiber 142 is not a valid design procedure. The lower density of polypropylene means a 3 kg/m³ addition contains many more individual fibres than 25 kg/m³ of steel fibre, but the elastic modulus of polypropylene is approximately 8.5 GPa compared with about 200 GPa for structural steel. At the same crack opening, a polypropylene fibre network therefore produces a lower residual tensile stress at small crack widths unless the dosage is increased. The substitution is most successful in aggressive environments where steel fibre corrosion is a maintenance issue. In chloride-containing or acidic ground, macro synthetic fibre does not undergo electrochemical oxidation and does not create galvanic coupling with reinforcing bars or mesh. The material also reduces the magnetic permeability of the shotcrete liner, which can be beneficial in tunnel segments where electromagnetic sensors or induction systems are used. These benefits must be weighed against the lower stiffness, because the design may require a thicker shotcrete section or additional conventional reinforcement to meet the same deformation limit.
Micro synthetic fibres with lengths typically between 6 mm and 19 mm and equivalent diameters below 0.3 mm are specified for the reduction of plastic shrinkage cracking during the first 24 hours after casting. They do not provide significant post-crack residual strength because the embedment length is too short to bridge a structural crack after the matrix has hardened. SikaFiber 142, by contrast, is a macro fibre of 42 mm nominal length and is designed for toughness and energy absorption. Among macro synthetic fibres, polymer choice affects the balance between tensile strength, modulus, and workability. Polyethylene-based macro fibres may exhibit higher tensile strength or modulus in some commercial products, but they may also have different melt behaviour and surface roughness. The selection of a macro synthetic fibre is therefore based on the classified residual flexural strength under EN 14651 or energy absorption under EN 14488-5, not solely on the isolated polymer properties. SikaFiber 142 remains a polypropylene-specific product, and its published nominal data should be compared with project test results rather than assumed equivalent to other macro synthetic fibres.
Compared with polypropylene micro fibres, SikaFiber 142 differs fundamentally in its post-crack structural role. Micro fibres are typically added at 0.6–1.0 kg/m³ for early-age cracking; at such low addition rates the macro fibre would not develop adequate post-crack resistance because the crack spacing would be too coarse. Conversely, using a micro fibre at macro fibre dosages does not produce the same structural performance because the short length and small diameter lead to pullout rather than stress transfer across hardened cracks. Compared with glass macro fibres, polypropylene has lower stiffness and lower alkali sensitivity, but it also has lower density and lower brittleness in pumping. These distinctions must be communicated in specifications so that field substitutions do not occur without re-validation of the hardened composite.
Operationally, the product should be protected from prolonged ultraviolet exposure and stored in dry covered conditions. Although polypropylene is inert in cement pore solution and is resistant to alkali, high-intensity oxidising acids and certain aromatic hydrocarbon solvents may degrade the polymer over extended contact. Fibre addition is not a substitute for reinforcement mandated by structural design codes for primary flexural capacity; the macroscopic tensile properties of the composite depend on the fibre dosage, fibre orientation, and matrix strength development. In precast concrete subjected to steam curing, the curing temperature should remain below the melting region of polypropylene, which is approximately 160–165 °C. There is no indication that the fibre interferes with air-entraining admixtures or conventional superplasticisers; compatibility testing is nonetheless recommended when new combination products are introduced.
For structural design using SikaFiber 142, the contribution of the fibre is expressed in terms of residual tensile or flexural strength, not as a direct replacement percentage of rebar area. Design standards such as fib Model Code 2010 and DAfStb guidelines account for synthetic macro fibre performance through a stress-crack opening relationship measured in notched beam tests. The designer must consider that the long-term tensile behaviour of polypropylene at sustained load may involve creep; published data for this specific configuration is limited, and long-term structural loads in permanent works should be approached with validated design methods rather than extrapolation from short-term fibre tensile tests. In temporary shotcrete support, such as tunnel advance rounds, the energy absorption criterion is the dominant verification; in permanent cast concrete slabs, the fibre may be used for crack-width control and impact resistance but not as the sole flexural reinforcement unless the design standard explicitly allows it. Field experience from production-scale concrete plants indicates that batch-to-batch variance in fibre dispersion is more strongly controlled by mixer condition and addition rate than by the fibre itself; worn mixer blades and low drum speed are common causes of clump formation.
| Standard or test | Parameter | Function in product evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| EN 14889-2:2006 | Fibre geometry and tensile properties | CE marking and classification of polymer macro fibre |
| EN 14651 | Flexural residual strength | Measurement of post-crack behaviour in cast beams |
| EN 14488-5 | Energy absorption of fibre-reinforced sprayed concrete | Panel acceptance testing for shotcrete support |
| EN 14487-1 | Specification of sprayed concrete | Defines durability and performance classes for tunnel linings |
| ASTM C1116/C1116M | Fiber-reinforced concrete classification | Used in some specifications for synthetic macro fibre concrete |
Performance verification for cast concrete applications generally uses EN 14651, where a beam is notched and tested under three-point loading. The residual flexural strength values at crack mouth opening displacements of 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm are used to classify the material. For shotcrete, the energy absorption test in EN 14488-5 uses a square panel simply supported on all edges and loaded centrally; the energy absorbed up to a central deflection of 25 mm is recorded. SikaFiber 142 contributes to energy absorption through fibre pullout and bridging; the measured value depends on fibre count at the crack, fibre orientation, and matrix-aggregate interlock. Shotcrete specifications often set minimum energy absorption rather than minimum fibre dosage, which permits the contractor to optimise the fibre quantity and matrix composition. This performance-based approach requires prequalification trials with the actual nozzle operator and pump configuration, because laboratory results with small-scale panels do not always transfer directly to field production.
