NOTES ON FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE

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Wikipedia

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.

The concept of using fibers as reinforcement is not new. Fibers have been used as reinforcement
since ancient times. Historically, horsehair was used in mortar and straw in mud bricks. In the
1900s, asbestos fibers were used in concrete. In the 1950s, the concept of composite materials
came into being and fiber-reinforced concrete was one of the topics of interest. Once the health
risks associated with asbestos were discovered, there was a need to find a replacement for the
substance in concrete and other building materials. By the 1960s, steel, glass (GFRC), and
synthetic fibers such as polypropylene fibers were used in concrete. Research into new fiber-
reinforced concretes continues today.

Fibers are usually used in concrete to control cracking due to plastic shrinkage and to drying
shrinkage. They also reduce 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, and so cannot replace moment–
resisting or structural steel reinforcement. Indeed, some fibers actually reduce the strength of
concrete.

The amount of fibers added to a concrete mix is expressed 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%. The 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 fiber's modulus of elasticity is higher than the matrix (concrete or mortar binder), they help to
carry the load by increasing the tensile strength of the material. Increasing the aspect ratio of the
fiber usually segments the flexural strength and toughness of the matrix. However, fibers that are
too long tend to "ball" in the mix and create workability problems.

The role of fiber is essentially to arrest any advancing crack by applying pinching force at the
cracks tips, thus delaying their propagation across the matrix. The ultimate cracking strain of the
composite is increased to many times greater than that of the unreinforced matrix. Unlike the
conventional bars the discrete fiber is dispersed uniformly throughout the matrix, hence they can
be more beneficial in arresting the growth of any advancing crack.
In Brief ,refer both and write which u understand BEST
Fibre Reinforced Concrete
Concrete is a composite material constitutes of coarse and fine aggregates
embedded with cement and water, which fills the space among the aggregate
particles and glues them together. It is a tension weak building material, has
limited ductility and little resistance to cracking. Internal micro cracks are
inherently present in the concrete and its poor tensile strength is due to propagation
of such micro cracks, which causes brittle fracture of the concrete. Plain concrete
has two deficiencies, low tensile strength and low strain at fracture. These are
generally overcome by providing reinforcement in concrete.

It has been recognised that the addition of small, closely spaced and uniformly
dispersed fibres to concrete would act as crack arrester and would substantially
improve its static and mechanical properties. This type of concrete is known as
Fibre Reinforced Concrete (F.R.C.). Although every type of fibre has been tried
out in cement and concrete, not all of them can be effectively or economically
used. Each type of fibre has its own characteristic properties and limitations.

Benefits of FRC

 Main role of fibres is to bridge the cracks that develop in concrete and
increase the ductility of concrete elements.
 Improvement on Post- Cracking behaviour of concrete.
 Imparts more resistance to impact load.
 Controls plastic shrinkage cracking and drying shrinkage cracking.
 Lowers the permeability of concrete matrix and thus reduce the bleeding of
water.

Toughening Mechanism

 Toughness is ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform

without fracturing.
 It can also be defined as resistance to fracture of a material when stressed.
 Fig-1.3: FRC performance with Stress vs Strain

Fig-1.4: Difference between FRC and conventional concrete

Factors affecting the Properties of FRC:

Fibre reinforced concrete is the composite material containing fibres in the cement
matrix in an orderly manner or randomly distributed manner. Its properties would
obviously, depend upon the efficient transfer of stress between matrix and the
fibres, which is largely dependent on the type of fibre, fibre geometry, fibre
content, orientation and distribution of the fibres, mixing and compaction
techniques of concrete, and size and shape of the aggregate. These factors are
briefly discussed below:

 Relative Fibre Matrix Stiffness

 Volume of Fibres
  Aspect Ratio of the Fibres
 Orientation of Fibres
 Workability and compaction of concrete
 Size of Coarse Aggregate
 Mixing

Relative Fibre Matrix Stiffness:

The modulus of elasticity of matrix must be much lower than that of fibre for
efficient stress transfer. Low modulus of fibres such as nylons and polypropylene
are, therefore, unlikely to give strength improvement, but they help in the
absorption of large energy and, therefore, impact greater degree of toughness and
resistance to impact. High modulus fibres such as steel, glass and carbon impact
strength and stiffness to the composite.

Interfacial bond between the matrix and the fibres also determine the effectiveness
of stress transfer, from the matrix to the fibre. A good bond is essential for
improving tensile strength of the composite. The interfacial bond could be
improved by larger area of contact, improving the frictional properties and degree
of gripping and by treating the steel fibres with sodium hydroxide or acetone.

Aspect Ratio of the Fibre:

Another important factor which influences the properties and behaviour of the
composite is the aspect ratio of the fibre. It has been reported that upto aspect ratio
of 75, increase in aspect ratio increases in ultimate strength of the concrete linearly.
Beyond 75, relative strength and toughness is reduced.

Orientation of Fibres:

One of the differences between conventional reinforcement and fibre

reinforcement is that in conventional, concrete the bars are oriented in desired
direction while fibres are randomly oriented. The fibres which are aligned parallel
to the applied load offered more tensile strength and toughness than randomly
distributed or perpendicular fibres.

Workability and compaction of concrete:

Incorporation of fibres decreases the workability considerably. This situation
adversely affects the consolidation of fresh mix. Even prolonged external
vibrations fail to compact the concrete. The fibre volume at which this situation is
reached depends on the length and diameter of the fibre.

Another consequence of poor workability is non-uniform distribution of the fibre.

Generally, the workability and compaction standard of the mix is improved
through increased W/C ratio or by the use of some kind of water reducing
admixtures.

Mixing:
Mixing of fibre reinforced concrete needs careful conditions to avoid balling of
fibres, segregation, and in general difficultly of mixing the materials uniformly.
Increase in the aspect ratio, volume percentage, size and quantity of coarse
aggregate intensify the difficulties and balling tendencies.

1.7.4 Types of Fibre Reinforced Concrete

Although every type of fibre has been tried out in cement and concrete, not all of
them can be effectively and economically used. Each type of fibre has its
characteristic properties and limitations. Some of the fibres that could be used are:

 Steel fibres
 Polypropylene fibres
 Nylon fibres
 Asbestos fibres
 Coir fibres
 Carbon fibres
 Glass fibres

Fibre is a small piece of reinforcing material possessing certain characteristic

properties. They can be circular or flat. It is often described by a convenient
parameter called aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of the fibre is the ratio of its length
to its diameter. Typical aspect ratio ranges from 30 to 150.

I. Steel Fibres:

Steel fibre is one of the most commonly used fibres. Generally, round fibres are
used. The diameter may vary from 0.25 to 0.75 mm. It has a tensile strength of
275-2757 Mpa. The main disadvantage of steel fibre is likely to get rusted and lose
some of its strengths. But investigations have shown that the rusting of the fibres
takes place only at the surface. Use of steel fibres makes significant improvements
in flecural, impact and fatigue strength of concrete; it has been extensively used in
various types of structures, particularly for overlays of roads, airfield pavements
and bridge decks. Thin shells and plates have also been constructed using steel
fibres.

Fig-1.7: Steel Fibre

II. Polypropylene Fibres:

Polypropylene fibres are cheapest and abundantly available, suitable to increase the
impact strength. The main disadvantage is that they possess very high tensile
strength, but their low modulus of elasticity and higher elongation do not
contribute to the flexural strength.
 Fig-1.8: Polypropylene Fibres

III. Asbestos Fibres:

Asbestos fibre is a mineral fibre and has proved to be most successful of all fibres
a it can be mixed with Portland cement. Tensile strength of asbestos varies
between 560 to 980 N/mm2. The composite product called asbestos cement has
considerably higher flexural strength than the Portland cement paste. And also it is
thermal, mechanical and chemical resistant.

Fig-1.9: Asbestos Fibre

IV. Carbon Fibres:

Carbon fibres perhaps posses very high tensile strength 2110 to 2815 N/mm2 and
young’s modulus. It has been studied that cement composite made with carbon
fibre as reinforcement will have very high modulus of elasticity and flexural
strength. The limited studies have shown good durability. The use of carbon fibres
for structures like cladding, panels and shells will have promising future.
 Fig-1.10: Carbon Fibres

V. Glass Fibres:

Glass fibre has very high tensile strength of 1020 to 4080 N/mm2. Glass fibre
which is originally used in conjunction with cement was found to be effected by
alkaline condition of cement. Therefore, alkali-resistant glass fibre by trade name
“CEM-FIL” has been developed and used. The alkali resistant fibre reinforced
concrete shows considerable improvement in durability when compared to the
conventional E-glass fibre.

Generally glass fibres are classified into five types. They are:

 A – Glass
 C- Glass
 E- Glass
 S- Glass
 AE- Glass
 Fig-1.11: Glass Fibre

Application of Fibre Reinforced Concrete

Fibre reinforced concrete is increasingly used on account of the advantages of

increased static and dynamic tensile strength, energy absorbing characteristics and
better fatigue strength. The uniform dispersion of fibres throughout the concrete
provides isotropic properties not common to conventionally reinforced concrete.
Fibre reinforced concrete has been tried on overlays of air-field, road pavements,
industrial floorings, bridge decks, canal lining, explosive resistant structures,
refractory linings etc. The fibre reinforced concrete can also be used for fabrication
of precast products like pipes, boats, beams, stair case steps, wall panels, roof
panels, manhole covers etc.