CONTENT

1. Introduction
2. Need of FRC
3. Types of FRC
a. Steel fibre reinforced concrete
b. Glass fibre reinforced concrete
c. Polymer fibre reinforced concrete
4. Benefits of polymer fibre
5. Comparison of various attribute of fibre
6. Toughness mechanism
7. Standard codes
8. Factor affecting FRC
a. Modulus of elasticity
b. Relative fibre matrix stiffness
c. Aspect ratio of fibre
d. Orientation of fibre
e. Workability and compaction of concrete
f. Size of coarse aggregate
g. Mixing
9. Advantages of FRC
10. Disadvantages of FRC
11. Summary
12. Conclusion
References
INTRODUCTION
Fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) may be defined as a composite materials made with Portland
cement, aggregate, and incorporating discrete discontinuous fibres. Now, why would we wish
to add such fibres to concrete? Plain, unreinforced concrete is a brittle material, with a low
tensile strength and a low strain capacity. The role of randomly distributes discontinuous
fibres is to bridge across the cracks that develop provides some postcracking “ductility”. If
the fibres are sufficiently strong, sufficiently bonded to material, and permit the FRC to carry
significant stresses over a relatively large strain capacity in the postcracking stage. There are,
of course, other (and probably cheaper) ways of increasing the strength of concrete. The real
contribution of the fibres is to increase the toughness of the concrete (defined as some
function of the area under the load vs. deflection curve), under any type of loading. That is,
the fibres tend to increase the strain at peak load, and provide a great deal of energy
absorption in post-peak portion of the load vs. deflection curve. When the fibre reinforcement
is in the form of short discrete fibres, they act effectively as rigid inclusions in the concrete
matrix. Physically, they have thus the same order of magnitude as aggregate inclusions; steel
fibre reinforcement cannot therefore be regarded as a direct replacement of longitudinal
reinforcement in reinforced and prestressed structural members. However, because of the
inherent material properties of fibre concrete, the presence of fibres in the body of the
concrete or the provision of a tensile skin of fibre concrete can be expected to improve the
resistance of conventionally reinforced structural members to cracking, deflection and other
serviceability conditions. The fibre reinforcement may be used in the form of three –
dimensionally randomly distributed fibres throughout the structural member when the added
advantages of the fibre to shear resistance and crack control can be further utilised . On the
other hand, the fibre concrete may also be used as a tensile skin to cover the steel
reinforcement when a more efficient two – dimensional orientation of the fibres could be
obtained.

NEED OF FRC
The concrete has low tensile strength due to existence of cracks. So, the reinforced fibre helps
in increasing the tensile strength of concrete by bridging the cracks with the fibre.

Main role of fibers is to increase the ductility of concrete elements. They also reduce the
permeability of concrete and thus reduce bleeding of water.

Some types of fibers produce greater abrasion and shatter resistance in concrete. Imparts
more resistance to Impact load
TYPES OF FRC
1. STEEL FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE
Steel fibre reinforce concrete is a composite material which is made up with cement concrete
mix and steel fibres of various geometries and orintation as reinforcing material.

The types of steel fibers are defined by ASTM A820:-

Type I: cold-drawn wire
Type II; cut sheet
Type III: melt-extracted
Type IV: mill cut
Type V: modified cold-drawn wire
Geometrical shapes;

SFRC improves :-

• High fatigue strength resistance to impact, blast and shock loads

• Shrinkage control of concrete
• Tensile strength, very high flexural, shear
• Erosion and abrasion resistance
• Temperature resistance, high thermal
• Earth quake resistance

Glass fibre–reinforced concrete

1. Glass fibre–reinforced concrete (GFRC) is reinforcing material, in concrete mix, short
length discrete glass fibers are dispersed. Inclusion of these fibres in these composite
results in improved tensile strength and impact strength of the material.
2. GFRC has been used for a period of 30 years in several construction elements but at
that time it was not so popular, mainly in non-structural ones, like facing panels
(about 80% of the GRC production), used in piping for sanitation network systems,
decorative non-recoverable formwork, and other products.

At the beginning age of the GFRC development, one of the most considerable problems was
the durability of the glass fibre, which becomes more brittle with time, due to the alkalinity of
the cement mortar.
Presently, the problem is practically solved with the new types of alkali-resistant (AR
resistance) glass fibres and with mortar additives that prevent the processes that lead to the
embrittlement of GFRC

Polymer Fiber reinforcement concrete

Civil structures made of steel reinforced concrete normally suffer from corrosion of the steel
by the salt, which results in the failure.

Constant maintenance and repairing is needed to enhance the life cycle of those civil
structures. The new approach is to adhesively bond polymer fiber composites onto the
structure. This also helps to increase the toughness and tensile strength and improve the
cracking and deformation characteristics of the resultant composite.

But this method adds another layer, which is prone to degradation. These fiber polymer
composites have been shown to suffer from degradation when exposed to marine
environment due to surface blistering. As a result, the adhesive bond strength is reduced,
which results in the de-lamination of the composite

BENEFITS OF POLYMER FIBER

1. Improve mix cohesion, improving pumpability over long distances
2. Improve freeze-thaw resistance
3. Improve resistance to explosive spalling in case of a severe fire
4. Improve impact resistance– and abrasion–resistance
5. Increase resistance to plastic shrinkage during curing
6. Improve structural strength
7. Reduce steel reinforcement requirements
8. Improve ductility
9. Reduce crack widths and control the crack widths tightly, thus improving durability
Comparison

Table.1 comparison of various fibres (P.K. Mehto and P.J.M. Monteiro)

TOUGHENING MECHANISM
Plain concrete fails suddenly once the deflection corresponding to the ultimate flexural
strength is exceeded; on the other hand, fiber-reinforced concrete continue to sustain
considerable loads even at fracture deflection of the plain concrete. Examination of fractured
specimens of fiber-reinforced concrete shows that failure takes place primarily due to fiber
pull-out or debonding. Thus, unlike plain concrete, a fiber-reinforced concrete specimen does
not break immediately after initiation of the first crack. This has the effect of increasing the
work of fracture, which is referred to as toughness and is represented by the area under the
load-deflection curve. In FRC crack density is increased, but the crack size is decreased.
STANDARD CODE DESIGN
EN 14889-1:2006 – Fibres for Concrete. Steel Fibres. Definitions, specifications &
conformity
EN 14845-1:2007 – Test methods for fibres in concrete
ASTM A820-16 – Standard Specification for Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
ASTM C1018-97 – Standard Test Method for Flexural Toughness and First-Crack Strength
of Fiber-Reinforced.

FACTORS AFFECTING FRC

1. Modulus of elasticity

 Low modulus of fiber such as nylons and polypropylene are unlikely to give strength
improvement,but help in the absorption of large energy and therefore, impart greater
degree of toughness and resistance to impart.

 High modulus fibers such as steel, glass and carbon impart strength and stiffness to
the composite.

2.Relative Fiber Matrix Stiffness

 Interfacial bond between the matrix and the fiber also determine the effectiveness of
stress transfer, from the matrix to the fiber. A good bond is essential for improving
tensile strength of the composite.
 Low volume fraction (less than 1%).
 Used in slab and pavement that have large exposed.
 Surface leading to high shrinkage cracking.
 Moderate volume fraction(between 1 and 2 percent)
 Used in Construction method such as Shortcrete & in Structures which requires
improved capacity against delamination, spalling & fatigue.
 High volume fraction (greater than 2%) Used in making high performance fiber
reinforced Composites such as CRC,RPC,SIFCON,ECC,MSFRC
3. Aspect Ratio of the Fiber

Another important factor which influences the properties and behaviour of the
composite is the aspect ratio of the fiber.

 It has been reported that up to aspect ratio of 75, increase on the aspect ratio increases
the ultimate concrete linearly.
 Beyond 75, relative strength and toughness is reduced

4. Orientation of Fibers

It was observed that the fibers aligned parallel to the applied load offered more tensile
strength and toughness than randomly distributed or perpendicular fibers.
5. Workability and Compaction of Concrete

Incorporation of steel fiber decreases the workability considerably. This situation

adversely affects the consolidation of fresh mix. Even prolonged external vibration fails to
compact the concrete. The fiber volume at which this situation is reached depends on aspect
ratio.

6. Size of Coarse Aggregate

Maximum size of the coarse aggregate should be restricted to 10mm, to avoid appreciable
reduction in strength of the composite.

7. Mixing

Mixing of fiber reinforced concrete needs careful conditions to avoid lumps of fibers,
segregation. Steel fiber content more than 2% by volume and aspect ratio of more than 100
are difficult to mix.
It is important that the fibers are dispersed uniformly throughout the mix; this can be done by
the addition of the fibers before the water is added.

ADVANTAGE OF FRC

1. High modulus of elasticity for effective long-term reinforcement, even in the

hardened concrete.
2. Does not rust nor corrode and requires no minimum cover.
3. Ideal aspect ratio (i.e. relationship between Fiber diameter and length) which makes
them excellent for early-age performance.
4. Easily placed, Cast, Sprayed and less labour intensive than placing rebar.
5. Greater retained toughness in conventional concrete mixes.
6. Higher flexural strength, depending on addition rate.
7. It can be made into thin sheets or irregular shapes.
8. FRC possesses enough plasticity to go under large deformation once the peak load has
been reached.

Disadvantage of FRC

1. High cost of materials.

2. Generally fibres do not increase the flexural strength of concrete, and so cannot replace
moment resisting or structural steel reinforcement.
SUMMARY

In conventional concrete, micro-cracks develop before structure is loaded because of

drying shrinkage and other causes of volume change. When the structure is loaded,
the micro cracks open up and propagate because of development of such micro-
cracks, results in inelastic deformation in concrete. Fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) is
cementing concrete reinforced mixture with more or less randomly distributed small
fibres. In the FRC, a number of small fibres are dispersed and distributed randomly in
the concrete at the time of mixing, and thus improve concrete properties in all
directions. It has been successfully used in construction with its excellent flexural-
tensile strength, resistance to spitting, impact resistance and excellent permeability
and frost resistance. It is an effective way to increase toughness, shock resistance and
resistance to plastic shrinkage cracking of the mortar. Steel fibers can improve the
structural strength to reduce in the heavy steel reinforcement requirement. Durability
of the concrete is improved. Polypropylene and Nylon fibers are used to improve the
impact resistance. Many developments have been made in the fiber reinforced
concrete.
 CONCLUSION

The efficient utilisation 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.

2. 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.

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

4. The efficient utilisation 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.

5. 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.

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

REFERENCE

7. ➢ P.K. Mehto and P.J.M. Monteiro, Concrete: Microstructure, Properties, and

Materials, Third Edition, Fourth Reprint 2011, pg- 502-522

8. ➢ A. A. Shah, Y. Ribakov, Recent trends in steel fibered high-strength concrete,

Elsevier, Materials and Design 32 (2011), pg- 4122–4151

9. ➢ ACI Committee 544. 1990. State-of-the-Art Report on Fiber Reinforced

Concrete.ACI Manual of Concrete Practice, Part 5, American Concrete Institute,
Detroit,MI,

10. ➢ ACI Committee 544, Report 544.IR-82, Concr. Int., Vol. 4, No. 5, p. 11, 1982
11. ➢ Hanna, A.N., PCA Report RD 049.01P, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, IL,
1977

12. ➢ E. Cadoni ,A. Meda ,Giovanni A. Plizzari, Tensile behaviour of FRC under high
strain-rate,RILEM, Materials and Structures (2009) 42:1283–1294

13. ➢ Marco di Prisco, Giovanni Plizzari, Lucie Vandewalle, Fiber Reinforced Concrete:
New Design Prespectives, RILEM, Materials and Structures (2009) 42:1261-1281