FIBERREINFORCEDCONCRETE

FiberReinforcedConcretecanbedefinedasacompositematerialconsistingofmixturesofcement,mortaror
concreteanddiscontinuous,discrete,uniformlydispersedsuitablefibers.Continuousmeshes,wovenfabrics
andlongwiresorrodsarenotconsideredtobediscretefibers.Fiberisasmallpieceofreinforcingmaterial
possessingcertaincharacteristicsproperties.Theycanbecircularorflat.Thefiberisoftendescribedbya
convenientparametercalledaspectratio.Theaspectratioofthefiberistheratioofitslengthtoitsdiameter.
Typicalaspectratiorangesfrom30to150.
Fiberreinforcedconcrete(FRC)isconcretecontainingfibrousmaterialwhichincreasesitsstructuralintegrity.It
containsshortdiscretefibersthatareuniformlydistributedandrandomlyoriented.Fibersincludesteelfibers,
glassfibers,syntheticfibersandnaturalfibers.Withinthesedifferentfibersthatcharacteroffiberreinforced
concretechangeswithvaryingconcretes,fibermaterials,geometries,distribution,orientationanddensities.
Fibrereinforcementismainlyusedinshotcrete,butcanalsobeusedinnormalconcrete.Fibrereinforced
normalconcretearemostlyusedforongroundfloorsandpavements,butcanbeconsideredforawiderange
ofconstructionparts(beams,pliers,foundationsetc)eitheraloneorwithhandtiedrebars
Concretereinforcedwithfibres(whichareusuallysteel,glassorplasticfibres)islessexpensivethanhand
tiedrebar,whilestillincreasingthetensilestrengthmanytimes.Shape,dimensionandlengthoffibreis
important.Athinandshortfibre,forexampleshorthairshapedglassfibre,willonlybeeffectivethefirsthours
afterpouringtheconcrete(reducescrackingwhiletheconcreteisstiffening)butwillnotincreasetheconcrete
tensilestrength
EffectofFibersinConcrete:
Fibresareusuallyusedinconcretetocontrolplasticshrinkagecrackinganddryingshrinkagecracking.They
alsolowerthepermeabilityofconcreteandthusreducebleedingofwater.Sometypesoffibresproduce
greaterimpact,abrasionandshatterresistanceinconcrete.Generallyfibresdonotincreasetheflexural
strengthofconcrete,soitcannotreplacemomentresistingorstructuralsteelreinforcement.Somefibres
reducethestrengthofconcrete.
Theamountoffibresaddedtoaconcretemixismeasuredasapercentageofthetotalvolumeofthe
composite(concreteandfibres)termedvolumefraction(Vf).Vftypicallyrangesfrom0.1to3%.Aspectratio
(l/d)iscalculatedbydividingfibrelength(l)byitsdiameter(d).Fibreswithanoncircularcrosssectionusean
equivalentdiameterforthecalculationofaspectratio.Ifthemodulusofelasticityofthefibreishigherthanthe
matrix(concreteormortarbinder),theyhelptocarrytheloadbyincreasingthetensilestrengthofthematerial.
Increaseintheaspectratioofthefibreusuallysegmentstheflexuralstrengthandtoughnessofthematrix.
However,fibreswhicharetoolongtendtoballinthemixandcreateworkabilityproblems.
Somerecentresearchindicatedthatusingfibresinconcretehaslimitedeffectontheimpactresistanceof
concretematerials.Thisfindingisveryimportantsincetraditionallypeoplethinktheductilityincreaseswhen
concretereinforcedwithfibres.Theresultsalsopointedoutthatthemicrofibresisbetterinimpactresistance
comparedwiththelongerfibres.

NecessityofFiberReinforcedConcrete:
1.Itincreasesthetensilestrengthoftheconcrete.
2.Itreducetheairvoidsandwatervoidstheinherentporosityofgel.
3.Itincreasesthedurabilityoftheconcrete.
4.Fibressuchasgraphiteandglasshaveexcellentresistancetocreep,whilethesameisnottrueformost
resins.Therefore,theorientationandvolumeoffibreshaveasignificantinfluenceonthecreepperformance
ofrebars/tendons.
5.Reinforcedconcreteitselfisacompositematerial,wherethereinforcementactsasthestrengtheningfibre
andtheconcreteasthematrix.Itisthereforeimperativethatthebehaviorunderthermalstressesforthetwo
materialsbesimilarsothatthedifferentialdeformationsofconcreteandthereinforcementareminimized.
6.Ithasbeenrecognizedthattheadditionofsmall,closelyspacedanduniformlydispersedfiberstoconcrete
wouldactascrackarresterandwouldsubstantiallyimproveitsstaticanddynamicproperties.
FACTORSAFFECTINGPROPERTIESOFFIBREREINFORCEDCONCRETE
Fiberreinforcedconcreteisthecompositematerialcontainingfibersinthecementmatrixinanorderlymanner
orrandomlydistributedmanner.Itspropertieswouldobviously,dependsupontheefficienttransferofstress
betweenmatrixandthefibers.Thefactorsarebrieflydiscussedbelow:
1.RelativeFiberMatrixStiffness
Themodulusofelasticityofmatrixmustbemuchlowerthanthatoffiberforefficientstresstransfer.Low
modulusoffibersuchasnylonsandpolypropyleneare,therefore,unlikelytogivestrengthimprovement,but
thehelpintheabsorptionoflargeenergyandtherefore,impartgreaterdegreeoftoughnessandresistanceto
impart.Highmodulusfiberssuchassteel,glassandcarbonimpartstrengthandstiffnesstothecomposite.
Interfacialbondbetweenthematrixandthefiberalsodeterminetheeffectivenessofstresstransfer,fromthe
matrixtothefiber.Agoodbondisessentialforimprovingtensilestrengthofthecomposite.
2.VolumeofFibers
Thestrengthofthecompositelargelydependsonthequantityoffibersusedinit.Fig1.1and1.2showthe
effectofvolumeonthetoughnessandstrength.ItcanseefromFig1.1thattheincreaseinthevolumeof
fibers,increaseapproximatelylinearly,thetensilestrengthandtoughnessofthecomposite.Useofhigher
percentageoffiberislikelytocausesegregationandharshnessofconcreteandmortar.

Fig.1Effectofvolumeoffibersinflexure.

Fig.2Effectofvolumeoffibersintension.3.AspectRatiooftheFiber
Anotherimportantfactorwhichinfluencesthepropertiesandbehaviorofthecompositeistheaspectratioofthe
fiber.Ithasbeenreportedthatuptoaspectratioof75,increaseontheaspectratioincreasestheultimate
concretelinearly.Beyond75,relativestrengthandtoughnessisreduced.Table1.1showstheeffectofaspect
ratioonstrengthandtoughness.
Table1.1Aspectratioofthefiber
Typeofconcrete

Aspect

Relativestrength

Relativetoughness

ratio
Plainconcrete

With

25

1.5

2.0

Randomly

50

1.6

8.0

Dispersedfibers

75

1.7

10.5

100

1.5

8.5

4.OrientationofFibers
Oneofthedifferencesbetweenconventionalreinforcementandfiberreinforcementisthatinconventional
reinforcement,barsareorientedinthedirectiondesiredwhilefibersarerandomlyoriented.Toseetheeffectof
randomness,mortarspecimensreinforcedwith0.5%volumeoffibersweretested.Inonesetspecimens,fibers
werealignedinthedirectionoftheload,inanotherinthedirectionperpendiculartothatoftheload,andinthe
thirdrandomlydistributed.
Itwasobservedthatthefibersalignedparalleltotheappliedloadofferedmoretensilestrengthandtoughness
thanrandomlydistributedorperpendicularfibers.
5.WorkabilityandCompactionofConcrete
Incorporationofsteelfiberdecreasestheworkabilityconsiderably.Thissituationadverselyaffectsthe
consolidationoffreshmix.Evenprolongedexternalvibrationfailstocompacttheconcrete.Thefibervolumeat
whichthissituationisreacheddependsonthelengthanddiameterofthefiber.
Anotherconsequenceofpoorworkabilityisnonuniformdistributionofthefibers.Generally,theworkabilityand
compactionstandardofthemixisimprovedthroughincreasedwater/cementratioorbytheuseofsomekind
ofwaterreducingadmixtures.
6.SizeofCoarseAggregate
Maximumsizeofthecoarseaggregateshouldberestrictedto10mm,toavoidappreciablereductioninstrength
ofthecomposite.Fibersalsoineffect,actasaggregate.Althoughtheyhaveasimplegeometry,theirinfluence
onthepropertiesoffreshconcreteiscomplex.Theinterparticlefrictionbetweenfibersandbetweenfibersand
aggregatescontrolstheorientationanddistributionofthefibersandconsequentlythepropertiesofthe
composite.Frictionreducingadmixturesandadmixturesthatimprovethecohesivenessofthemixcan
significantlyimprovethemix.
7.Mixing
Mixingoffiberreinforcedconcreteneedscarefulconditionstoavoidballingoffibers,segregationandingeneral
thedifficultyofmixingthematerialsuniformly.Increaseintheaspectratio,volumepercentageandsizeand
quantityofcoarseaggregateintensifythedifficultiesandballingtendency.Steelfibercontentinexcessof2%by
volumeandaspectratioofmorethan100aredifficulttomix.
Itisimportantthatthefibersaredisperseduniformlythroughoutthemixthiscanbedonebytheadditionofthe
fibersbeforethewaterisadded.Whenmixinginalaboratorymixer,introducingthefibersthroughawiremesh
basketwillhelpevendistributionoffibers.Forfielduse,othersuitablemethodsmustbeadopted.

DIFFERENTTYPEOFFIBERREINFORCEDCONCRETE:
Followingarethedifferenttypeoffibersgenerallyusedintheconstructionindustries.
1.SteelFiberReinforcedConcrete
2.PolypropyleneFiberReinforced(PFR)cementmortar&concrete
3.GFRCGlassFiberReinforcedConcrete
4.AsbestosFibers
5.CarbonFibers
6.OrganicFibers

1.SteelFiberReinforcedConcrete:
Anoofsteelfibertypesareavailableasreinforcement.Roundsteelfiberthecommonlyusedtypeare
producedbycuttingroundwireintoshortlength.Thetypicaldiameterliesintherangeof0.25to0.75mm.
Steelfibershavingarectangularc/sareproducedbysiltingthesheetsabout0.25mmthick.Fibermadefrom
mildsteeldrawnwire.ConformingtoIS:2801976withthediameterofwirevaryingfrom0.3to0.5mmhave
beenpracticallyusedinIndia.Roundsteelfibersareproducedbycuttingorchoppingthewire,flatsheetfibers
havingatypicalc/srangingfrom0.15to0.41mminthicknessand0.25to0.90mminwidthareproducedby
siltingflatsheets.Deformedfiber,whicharelooselyboundedwithwatersolubleglueintheformofabundleare
alsoavailable.Sinceindividualfiberstendtoclustertogether,theiruniformdistributioninthematrixisoften
difficult.Thismaybeavoidedbyaddingfibersbundles,whichseparateduringthemixingprocess.

2.PolypropyleneFiberReinforced(PFR)cementmortar&concrete:
Polypropyleneisoneofthecheapest&abundantlyavailablepolymerspolypropylenefibersareresistantto
mostchemical&itwouldbecementitiousmatrixwhichwoulddeterioratefirstunderaggressivechemicalattack.
Itsmeltingpointishigh(about165degreescentigrade).Sothataworkingtemp.As(100degreecentigrade)
maybesustainedforshortperiodswithoutdetrimenttofiberproperties.
Polypropylenefibersbeinghydrophobiccanbeeasilymixedastheydonotneedlengthycontactduringmixing
andonlyneedtobeevenlydistressedinthemix.
Polypropyleneshortfibersinsmallvolumefractionsbetween0.5to15commerciallyusedinconcrete.

Fig.3Polypropylenefiberreinforcedcementmortar&concrete.

3.GFRCGlassFiberReinforcedConcrete:
Glassfiberismadeupfrom200400individualfilamentswhicharelightlybondedtomakeupastand.These
standscanbechoppedintovariouslengths,orcombinedtomakeclothmatortape.Usingtheconventional
mixingtechniquesfornormalconcreteitisnotpossibletomixmorethanabout2%(byvolume)offibersofa
lengthof25mm.
Themajorapplianceofglassfiberhasbeeninreinforcingthecementormortarmatricesusedintheproduction
ofthinsheetproducts.Thecommonlyusedveritiesofglassfibersareeglassused.Inthereinforcedofplastics
&ARglassEglasshasinadequateresistancetoalkalispresentinPortlandcementwhereARglasshas
improvedalkaliresistantcharacteristics.Sometimespolymersarealsoaddedinthemixestoimprovesome
physicalpropertiessuchasmoisturemovement.

Fig.4Glassfiberreinforcedconcrete

4.AsbestosFibers:
Thenaturallyavailableinexpensivemineralfiber,asbestos,hasbeensuccessfullycombinedwithPortland
cementpastetoformawidelyusedproductcalledasbestoscement.Asbestosfibersherethermalmechanical

&chemicalresistancemakingthemsuitableforsheetproductpipes,tilesandcorrugatedroofingelements.
Asbestoscementboardisapproximatelytwoorfourtimesthatofunreinforcedmatrix.However,dueto
relativelyshortlength(10mm)thefiberhavelowimpactstrength.

Fig.5Asbestosfiber

5.CarbonFibers:
Carbonfibersfromthemostrecent&probabilitythemostspectacularadditiontotherangeoffiberavailablefor
commercialuse.Carbonfibercomesundertheveryhighmodulusofelasticityandflexuralstrength.Theseare
expansive.Theirstrength&stiffnesscharacteristicshavebeenfoundtobesuperioreventothoseofsteel.But
theyaremorevulnerabletodamagethanevenglassfiber,andhencearegenerallytreatedwithresigncoating.

Fig.6Carbonfibers

6.OrganicFibers:
Organicfibersuchaspolypropyleneornaturalfibermaybechemicallymoreinertthaneithersteelorglass
fibers.Theyarealsocheaper,especiallyifnatural.Alargevolumeofvegetablefibermaybeusedtoobtaina
multiplecrackingcomposite.Theproblemofmixinganduniformdispersionmaybesolvedbyaddingasuper
plasticizer.

Fig.7Organicfiber