Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) is gaining popularity among jobs in construction due to its faster production and lower labor expenses. As a result, steel fibers are increasingly used to reinforce numerous structural parts as a partial or complete substitute for conventional reinforcement such as rebars or welded mesh. FRC meets both cost and quality standards because the fibers allow cracks to be spread out more evenly to make them last longer.
What is fiber-reinforced concrete?
Fiber Reinforced Concrete is a composite material made from fibrous material that improves structural stability. It consists of cement, mortar, or concrete mixed with discrete and evenly distributed fibers. Fibers are often applied to concrete to minimize cracks caused by plastic shrinkage and drying shrinkage. They also reduce the permeability of concrete.
How is fiber-reinforced concrete prepared?
Fiber-reinforced concrete may be prepared using conventional concrete or mortar as long as the fibers are blended uniformly. When making fiber-reinforced concrete, you need to think about the ratio of water to cement and the aspect ratio of the fiber, which is the length of the fiber divided by its diameter.
Segregation should be avoided since the number of fibers used may affect the structure’s strength and durability. They need to be spread out before adding the threads to the water. The best way to do this is with a laboratory mixer and a wire mesh basket.
Types of Fibre-Reinforced Concrete
Various types of standard specified fibers are used in reinforced concrete jobs in construction. The most general categories are:
- Cellulose fibers
- Natural fibers
- Carbon fiber
- Polyester fibers
- Glass fibers
- Polypropylene fibers
- Steel fibers
The Benefits of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
- Fiber-reinforced concrete could be helpful when high tensile strength and low cracking are needed or when regular reinforcement can’t be used.
- It makes concrete stronger, stops cracks from forming, and makes the composite material stronger to take more stress.
- Macro-synthetic fibers are applied to enhance concrete durability in construction jobs like industrial applications. These synthetic strands are lengthy and thick in size and may be used as a substitute for bar or fabric reinforcement.
- By adding fibers to concrete, its ability to resist freezing and thawing is improved, and the concrete stays strong and looks good for longer.
- Increase mixing cohesiveness and permeability over extended distances.
- It increases the resistance to plastic shrinkage during curing.
- It reduces the need for steel reinforcement.
- It controls the width of the crack, increasing durability.
- It reduces segregation and bleed-water with a toughness of 10 to 40 times that of plain concrete.
- The inclusion of fibers improves fatigue strength.
- Fibers improve the shear strength of reinforced concrete beams.
The disadvantages of fiber-reinforced concrete
- Rain may reveal the fibers.
- If the orientation of the fibers in the concrete is not consistent, it might result in poor quality concrete.
- Reinforced concrete is around 10% to 15% more expensive than non-reinforced concrete.
Kilgore Companies can assist if you’re not sure what sort of concrete you want or need. As a leading supplier of construction materials and services, we can help you meet your project requirements.