FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE

CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE NO.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE 4

1.2 WHAT IS FIBER REINFORCED

5
CONCRETE

1.3 HISTORY OF FRC

5
1.4 APPLICATIONS OF FRC 5-6

2 TYPES OF FIBER REINFORCED

CONCRETE
2.1 STEEL FIBERS 6

2.2 GLASS FIBERS 7

2.3 SYNTHETIC FIBERS

7-8
2.4 NATURAL FIBERS
8
2.5 CARBON FIBERS
9
2.6 ORGANIC FIBERS 9

2.7 BENEFITS
10
2.8 EFFECTS OF FRC
11
3 3.1 ADVANTAGES OF FRC 12
3.2 DISADVANTAGES OF FRC 12
3.2 COMPARISON OF FRC WITH
13
REINFORCED CONCRETE
4 CONCLUSION
13
5 REFERENCES
14

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LIST OF FIGURES

FIG NO TITLE PAGE NO

fig1 steel fibers 07

fig 2 glass fibers 08
fig 3 synthetic fibers 09
fig 4 natural fibers 10
fig 5 carbon fibers 11
fig 6 organic fibers 12

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ABSTRACT

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is concrete containing a hydraulic cement, water, fine or

fine and coarse aggregate, fibrous material which increases its structural integrity. To
improve greater impact, abrasion, and shatter–resistance in concrete, fibers of various
shapes and sizes derived from steel, acrylic asbestons, glass, xylon, polyester,
polyethylene, polypropylene, rayon, rock wool and natural materials are being used.
Among which steel fiber is the most commonly used of all the fibers for most structural
and nonstructural purposes. Fiber-reinforced concrete is considered to be a material of
improved properties and not as reinforced cement concrete whereas reinforcement is
provided for the local strengthening of concrete in tension region. Fibers generally used in
cement concrete pavements are steel fibers and organic polymer fibers such as polyester
or polypropylene.

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is concrete containing fibrous
material which increases its structural integrity. It contains short discrete fibers that
are uniformly distributed and randomly oriented. Fibers include steel fibers, glass
fibers, synthetic fibers and natural fibers – each of which lend varying properties to
the concrete. In addition, the character of fiber-reinforced concrete changes with
varying concretes, fiber materials, geometries, distribution, orientation, and
densities.

Fiber Reinforced Concrete can be defined as a composite material consisting of mixtures

of cement, mortar or concrete and discontinuous, discrete, uniformly dispersed suitable
fibers. Continuous meshes, woven fabrics and long wires or rods are not considered to be
discrete fibers.

Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is concrete containing fibrous material which increases
its structural integrity. It contains short discrete fibers that are uniformly distributed and
randomly oriented. Fibers include steel fibers, glass fibers, synthetic fibers and natural
fibers. Within these different fibers that character of fiber reinforced concrete changes
with varying concretes, fiber materials, geometries, distribution, orientation and densities.

Fibre-reinforcement is mainly used in shotcrete, but can also be used in normal concrete.
Fibre-reinforced normal concrete are mostly used for on-ground floors and pavements,
but can be considered for a wide range of construction parts (beams, pliers, foundations
etc) either alone or with hand-tied rebars

Concrete reinforced with fibers (which are usually steel, glass or “plastic” fibers) is less
expensive than hand-tied rebar, while still increasing the tensile strength many times.
Shape, dimension and length of fiber is important. A thin and short fiber, for example
short hair-shaped glass fiber, will only be effective the first hours after pouring the
concrete (reduces cracking while the concrete is stiffening) but will not increase the
concrete tensile strength

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1.2 What is fiber reinforced concrete?

Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is a new structural material which is gaining
increasing importance. Addition of fiber reinforcement in discrete form improves
many engineering properties of concrete.

1.3 History of reinforced concrete

Fibers have been used for concrete reinforcement since prehistoric times though
technology has improved significantly, as is applicable for other fields.

In the early age, straw and mortar were used for producing mud bricks, and horsehair was
used for their reinforcement. As the fiber technology developed, cement was reinforced
by asbestos fibers in the early twentieth century.

During the middle of the twentieth century, extensive research was in progress for the use
of composite materials for concrete reinforcement. Later, the use of asbestos for concrete
reinforcement was discouraged due to the detection of health risks.

New materials like steel, glass, and synthetic fibers replaced asbestos for reinforcement.
Active research is still in progress on this important technology. Fiber Reinforced
Concrete is considered to be one of the greatest advancements in the construction
engineering during the twentieth century.

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1.4 Applications of FRC

It is used on account of the advantages of increased static and dynamic tensile strength
and better fatigue strength.

It has been tried on overlays of air-field, road pavements, industrial footings,

bridge decks, canal lining, explosive resistant structures, refractory linings,etc.

Used for the fabrication of precast products like pipes, boats, beams, stair case steps,
wall panels, roof panels, manhole covers etc.

It is also being tried for the manufacture of prefabricated formwork moulds of “U”
shape for casting lintels and small beams

 Industrial flooring

 Sprayed concrete

 Slender structures (usually in precast plants)

 Fire resistant structures

 mortar applications (rehabilitation)

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CHAPTER 2

TYPES OF FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE

2.1 Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Steel fiber-reinforced concrete is basically a cheaper and easier to use form of
rebar reinforced concrete. Rebar reinforced concrete uses steel bars that are
laid within the liquid cement, which requires a great deal of prep work but
make for a much stronger concrete.

Steel fiber-reinforced concrete uses thin steel wires mixed in with the
cement. This imparts the concrete with greater structural strength, reduces
cracking and helps protect against extreme cold. Steel fiber is often used in
conjunction with rebar or one of the other fiber types.

Fig 1: steel fibers

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2.2 Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Glass fiber-reinforced concrete uses fiberglass, much like you would find in
fiberglass insulation, to reinforce the concrete. The glass fiber helps insulate the
concrete in addition to making it stronger. Glass fiber also helps prevent the
concrete from cracking over time due to mechanical or thermal stress. In
addition, the glass fiber does not interfere with radio signals like the steel fiber
reinforcement does.

Fig 2 : glass fibers

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2.3 Synthetic Fibers

Synthetic fiber-reinforced concrete uses plastic and nylon fibers to improve the
concrete's strength. In addition, the synthetic fibers have a number of benefits
over the other fibers. While they are not as strong as steel, they do help
improve the cement pumpability by keeping it from sticking in the pipes. The
synthetic fibers do not expand in heat or contract in the cold which helps
prevent cracking. Finally synthetic fibers help keep the concrete from spalling
during impacts or fires.

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2.4 Natural Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Historically, fiber-reinforced concrete have used natural fibers, such as hay or
hair. While these fibers help the concrete's strength they can also make it weaker
if too much is used. In addition if the natural fibers are rotting when they are
mixed in then the rot can continue while in the concrete. This eventually leads to
the concrete crumbling from the inside, which is why natural fibers are no longer
used in construction.

Fig 4 : natural fibers

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2.5 Carbon Fibers

Carbon fibers from the most recent & probability the most spectacular addition to
the range of fiber available for commercial use. Carbon fiber comes under the very
high modulus of elasticity and flexural strength. These are expansive. Their strength
& stiffness characteristics have been found to be superior even to those of steel. But
they are more vulnerable to damage than even glass fiber, and hence are generally
treated with resign coating.

Fig 5 : carbon fibers

2.6 Organic Fibers

Organic fiber such as polypropylene or natural fiber may be chemically more inert
than either steel or glass fibers. They are also cheaper, especially if natural. A large
volume of vegetable fiber may be used to obtain a multiple cracking composite. The
problem of mixing and uniform dispersion may be solved by adding a super
plasticizer.

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Fig 6 : organic fibers

2.7 Benefits
Polypropylene and Nylon fibers can:

 Improve mix cohesion, improving pumpability over long distances

 Improve freeze-thaw resistance

 Improve resistance to explosive spelling in case of a severe fire

 Improve impact resistance

 Increase resistance to plastic shrinkage during curing

Steel fibers can:

 Improve structural strength

 Reduce steel reinforcement requirements

 Improve ductility

 Reduce crack widths and control the crack widths tightly, thus improving
durability

 Improve impact– and abrasion–resistance

 Improve freeze-thaw resistance

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Blends of both steel and polymeric fibers are often used in construction projects in order
to combine the benefits of both products; structural improvements provided by steel fibers
and the resistance to explosive spalling and plastic shrinkage improvements provided by
polymeric fibers.
In certain specific circumstances, steel fiber or macro synthetic fibers can entirely replace
traditional steel reinforcement bar ("rebar") in reinforced concrete. This is most common
in industrial flooring but also in some other precasting applications. Typically, these are
corroborated with laboratory testing to confirm that performance requirements are met.
Care should be taken to ensure that local design code requirements are also met, which
may impose minimum quantities of steel reinforcement within the concrete. There are
increasing numbers of tunnelling projects using precast lining segments reinforced only
with steel fibers.

2.8 Effects of fiber reinforced concretes:

 Improved durability of the structure

 Increased tensile and flexural strengths

 Higher resistance to later cracking

 Improved crack distribution

 Reduced shrinkage of early age concrete

 Increased fire resistance of concrete

 Negative influence on workability

 Improved homogeneity of fresh concrete

Fibers are usually used in concrete to control plastic shrinkage cracking and drying
shrinkage cracking. They also lower the permeability of concrete and thus reduce
bleeding of water. Some types of fibers produce greater impact, abrasion and shatter
resistance in concrete. Generally fibers do not increase the flexural strength of concrete,
so it cannot replace moment resisting or structural steel reinforcement. Some fibers
reduce the strength of concrete.

The amount of fibers added to a concrete mix is measured as a percentage of the total
volume of the composite (concrete and fibers) termed volume fraction (Vf). Vf typically
ranges from 0.1 to 3%. Aspect ratio (l/d) is calculated by dividing fiber length (l) by its
diameter (d). Fibers with a non-circular cross section use an equivalent diameter for the
calculation of aspect ratio. If the modulus of elasticity of the fiber is higher than the

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matrix (concrete or mortar binder), they help to carry the load by increasing the tensile
strength of the material. Increase in the aspect ratio of the fiber usually segments the
flexural strength and toughness of the matrix. However, fibers which are too long tend to
“ball” in the mix and create workability problems.

Some recent research indicated that using fibers in concrete has limited effect on the
impact resistance of concrete materials. This finding is very important since traditionally
people think the ductility increases when concrete reinforced with fibers. The results also
pointed out that the micro fibers is better in impact resistance compared with the longer
fibers.

CHAPTER 3

3.1 Advantages of FRC

◆ High modulus of elasticity for effective long term reinforcement , even in the

hardened concrete.

◆ Does not rust nor corrode and requires no minimum cover .

◆ Ideal aspect ratio (i.e. relationship between fiber diameter and length) which

makes them excellent for early-age performance.

◆ Easily placed,cast,sprayed and less labour intensive than placing rebar.

◆ Greater retained toughness in conventional concrete mixes.

◆ Higher flexural strength, depending on addition rate.

◆ Can be made into thin sheets or irregular shapes.

◆ FRC possesses enough plasticity to go under large deformation once

the peak load has been reached.

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3.2 Disadvantages of FRC

◆ greater reduction of workability.

◆ High cost of materials.

◆ Generally fibers do not increase the flexural strength of concrete, and so cannot
replace moment resistance

or structural steel reinforcement

3.3 Comparison

FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE NORMAL REINFORCED CONCRETE

High durability Lower durability

Protect steel from corrosion steel potential to corrosion

Lighter (materials) heavier (materials)

More expensive economical

With the same of volume, the strength is with the same of volume, the strength is
greater less

High workability less workability as compared to FRC

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CHAPTER 4

CONCLUSION
The efficient utilization of fibrous concrete involves improved static and dynamic
properties like tensile strength, energy absorbing characteristics, Impact strength and
fatigue strength. Also provides a isotropic strength properties not common in the
conventional concrete.

It will, however be wrong to say that fibrous concrete will provide a universal solution to
the problems associated with plain concrete. Hence it is not likely to replace the
conventional structural concrete in total.

Superior crack resistance and greater ductility with distinct post cracking behavior are
some of the important static properties of FRC. The enormous increase in impact
resistance and fatigue resistance allow the new material to be used in some specified
applications where conventional concrete is at a disadvantage.

A new approach in design and in the utilization of this material, to account for both
increase in performance and economics is therefore, needed.

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CHAPTER 5

REFERENCES

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