TEXTILE REINFORCED

CONCRETE
NEED
Concrete has low tensile strength, limited ductility and little resistance to
cracking
Concrete develops micro-cracks, even before loading
Addition of small, closely spaced and uniformly distributed fibres act as
crack arresters.

TEXTILE REINFORCED CONCRETE is a composite material
consisting of mixtures of cement, mortar or concrete and discontinuous,
discrete, uniformly dispersed suitable fibres or textile.The fibres used for
making the fabric are of high tenacity like Jute, Glass Fibre, Kevlar,
Polypropylene, Polyamides (Nylon) etc. The weaving of the fabric is done
either in a coil fashion or in a layer fashion. Molten
materials, ceramic clays, plastics or cement concrete are deposited on the
base fabric in such a way that the inner fabric is completely wrapped with
the concrete or plastic.
2
FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROPERTIES OF
TRC
Relative Fibre Matrix Stiffness
Volume of textile fibres
Aspect Ratio of the Fibre
Orientation of Fibres
Workability and Compaction of Concrete
Size of Coarse Aggregate
Mixing
Strength of the fibres

3
1. RELATIVE FIBRE MATRIX STIFFNESS
Modulus of elasticity of matrix must be much lower than that of fibre. E.g.
steel, glass, carbon
Fibres with low modulus of elasticity- nylon, polypropylene
Interfacial bond between the matrix and the fibres determine the
effectiveness of stress transfer

4
2. VOLUME OF FIBRES
5
As seen in the graph, toughness and strength of the concrete increases with
an increase in the volume of fibres
3. ASPECT RATIO OF THE FIBRE
6
Aspect Ratio of a fibre = Length/Diameter
4. ORIENTATION OF FIBRES
The effect of randomness, was tested using mortar specimens
reinforced with 0.5% volume of fibres, by orienting them:
parallel to the direction of the load
perpendicular to the direction of the load
in random

The fibres are usually aligned in the direction of the tensile stresses in
order to take up maximum stress.
7
5. Workability and Compaction of Concrete
Fibres reduce workability. The higher the volume of
fibres, the tougher the compaction will be. Thus, the fibres
must be used in reasonable proportions.

6. Size of Aggregate
Size of coarse aggregates is restricted to 10mm
8
7. MIXING
Cement content : 325 to 550 kg/m
3
W/C Ratio : 0.4 to 0.6
% of sand to total aggregate : 50 to 100%
Maximum Aggregate Size : 10 mm
Air-content : 6 to 9%
Fibre content : 0.5 to 2.5% by vol of mix
: Steel -1% - 78kg/m
3
: Glass -1% - 25 kg/m
3
: Nylon -1% - 11 kg/m
3
9
TYPES OF TRCS
10
STEEL FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE (SFRC)
Aspect ratios of 30 to 250
Diameters vary from 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm
Hooks are provided at the ends to improve bond with
the matrix
11
12
F
I
B
R
E

R
E
I
N
F
O
R
C
E
D

C
O
N
C
R
E
T
E

TYPES OF STEEL FIBRES
13
F
I
B
R
E

R
E
I
N
F
O
R
C
E
D

C
O
N
C
R
E
T
E

FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE
INTRODUCTION OF STEEL FIBRES
MODIFIES:
1. Tensile strength
2. Compressive strength
3. Flexural strength
4. Shear strength
5. Modulus of Elasticity
6. Shrinkage
7. Impact resistance
8. Strain capacity/Toughness
9. Durability
10. Fatigue

14
APPLICATIONS OF SFRC
Highway and airport pavements
Refractory linings
Canal linings
Industrial floorings and bridge-decks
Precast applications - wall and roof panels, pipes, boats,
staircase steps & manhole covers
Structural applications


15
POLYPROPYLENE FIBRE REINFORCED
CONCRETE (PFRC)
Advantages :
Cheap, abundantly available
High chemical resistance
High melting point
Low modulus of elasticity

Applications :
Cladding panels
Shotcrete

16
GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE (GFRC)
Advantages :
High tensile strength, 1020 to 4080 N/mm
2
Lengths of 25mm are used
Improvement in impact strengths, to the tune of 1500%
Increased flexural strength, ductility and resistance to
thermal shock

Applications :
Used in formwork, swimming pools, ducts and roofs, sewer
lining etc.
17
OTHER FIBRES
18
ASBESTOS FIBRES
High thermal, mechanical and chemical resistance
Short in length (10 mm)
Flexural strength is 2 to 4 times that of unreinforced matrix
Contains 8-16% of asbestos fibres by volume
Associated with health hazards, banned in many countries
19
CARBON FIBRES
Material of the future, expensive
High tensile strengths of 2110 to 2815 N/mm
2
Strength and stiffness superior to that of steel

20
ORGANIC/VEGETABLE FIBRES
Jute, coir and bamboo are examples
They may undergo organic decay
Low modulus of elasticity, high impact strength
21