02-01-2013, 04:26 PM
Fiber-reinforced concrete
INTRODUCTION
Concrete made with Portland cement has certain characteristics: it is relatively strong in compression but weak in tension and tends to be brittle. The weakness in tension can be overcome by the use of conventional rod reinforcement and to some extent by the inclusion of a sufficient volume of certain fibers. The use of fibers also alters the behavior of the Fibre-matrix composite after it has cracked, thereby improving its toughness.
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.
It is also defined as A Portland-cement concrete or mortar that is reinforced with dispersed, randomly oriented, unconnected fibers of metallic, mineral, or organic materials.