Speaker
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Nancy Aguirre PhDDirector of Pavements & Geotech Solutions | FullForce Engineered Solutions: Nancy Aguirre, PhD serves as Director of Pavements & Geotechnical Solutions at FullForce, where she leads the development and implementation of innovative pavement and geotechnical solutions for transportation and infrastructure projects. Her work spans pavement engineering, materials optimization, soil stabilization, fiber-reinforced concrete, specifications, and construction implementation, with a focus on translating engineering innovation into practical, high-performing infrastructure.
Nancy earned her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at El Paso, where her research focused on mechanistic analysis of concrete pavements. She is actively involved in national and regional engineering organizations, including ACI, ASCE, ACPA, and ASCC. Through these roles, she contributes to the development and advancement of engineering guidance, design practices, and industry standards.
Local Time
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Date: Sep 16 2026
- Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
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Convention Center First Floor
- 1901 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Cracks Happen: Designing Better Concrete Pavements with Fibers
Cracking in concrete is inevitable—but poor pavement performance does not have to be. Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) provides engineers with an opportunity to rethink how concrete pavements are designed by moving beyond traditional approaches to crack control and reinforcement. This presentation explores the role of fibers in improving the performance, durability, and resiliency of concrete pavement systems, with an emphasis on practical design and construction considerations.
The presentation will examine how macro-synthetic fibers interact with concrete after cracking, including their contribution to residual flexural strength, crack-width control, load transfer, and preservation of aggregate interlock. The discussion will distinguish between what fibers can—and cannot—replace, addressing common questions surrounding welded wire reinforcement, reinforcing steel, and dowel bars. Performance-based design concepts, fiber dosage, joint behavior, pavement thickness optimization, and the importance of adequate foundation support will also be discussed.
Through engineering principles, research, and practical applications, attendees will gain a better understanding of how fiber reinforcement can be incorporated into pavement design to achieve more efficient and durable systems. Because cracks happen—the key is designing concrete pavements to perform after they do.
