FIBER REINFORCED

CONCRETE
(FRC)
BY
PALLAV PABAN BARUAH

What is fiber reinforced concrete

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is

composite material which consists of
conventional concrete or mortar mixed
or reinforced by fine fibrous material
which increases its structural integrity.

Types of fibers

Types of fibers include

Steel
Synthetic
Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Polyvinyl alcohol fibers

Polyester,

Glass
Natural materials
Wood

cellulose, Bamboo, Elephant grass

All are available is different shapes sizes and

materials

Types of fibers

Steel

Shapes

Steel fibers are adhered together before

mixing and separate while mixing to ensure
uniform distribution

Advantages of using fiber

reinforced concrete versus plain
concrete

Improves toughness of concrete

Flexural strength is improved by up to 30%
by decreasing the propagation of cracks
Improves tensile strength
More economical than steel reinforcement
Less prone to corrosion
Gives an alternative way to reinforce
concrete other then traditional steel rebar

PC
C

FR
C

Corrosion

Unlike rebar there is not galvanic cell

created in the fibers
No anodic/cathodic reaction
pH level of concert protects steel fibers
from corrosion

FACTORS EFFECTING PROPERTIES OF FIBRE

REINFORCED CONCRETE

Volume of Fibres
Aspect Ratio of the Fibre
Orientation of Fibres
Workability and Compaction of Concrete
Size of Coarse Aggregate
Relative Fibre Matrix Stiffness

Applications

Applications include:

Pipes
Tilt-up Panels
Fibre reinforced Shotcrete
Slabs
Counters tops
Tiles
Industrial flooring, external pavements and
in some tunnel works

Properties

Durability

Made with a high content of cement and

low water to cement ratio
When properly compacted and cured,
concrete with steel fibers is very durable

Workability

Affects workability
Compensate by adding superplasticizers

Properties

Compressive behavior of steel FRC

Tensile behavior

Keeps integrity after failure

Strength slightly enhanced
increase tensile strength

Has little effect on the modulus of

elasticity, drying shrinkage, and creep

Production

Production involves 5 Steps

1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

Determine typical Uses and Specifying

FRC
Materials
Mixture Proportioning
Batching, Mixing, Delivery and Sampling
Placing and Finishing

Mixing Synthetic fibre

1.

Synthetic fibers are packed loosely in

degradable bags, which can be added to
the mix at the batch plant or thrown into
the truck mixer at the jobsite. Proper
mechanical agitation ensures separation
of the fibers, virtually eliminating the
formation of fiber balls in the concrete. It
also distributes the fibers in a thorough,
uniform manner throughout the mix.

Mixing steel Fibre

1.

They come packaged in boxes and bags.

Steel fibers are manually added to the
concrete at either ready mix plants or
jobsites. At the ready mix plant, some
fiber types may be preloaded into
concrete trucks before the other mix
materials are added.

PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED WHILE BATCHING,

MIXING, PLACING, COMPACTING AND FINISHING OF
FIBRES IN FRC
1.

2.

3.

4.

Workers mixing steel fiber reinforced

concrete by hand should wear hand
gloves and wear safety glasses.
A pan mixture of counter flow type should
be used for mixing fibre reinforced
concrete.
Standard screeding method and trowels
can be used for finishing fiber concrete.
Precaution on workability tests: Flow table
test is more suitable.

THANK
YOU