State-of-the-Art Review of Capabilities and Limitations of Polymer and Glass Fibers Used for Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

The concrete industry has long been adding discrete fibers to cementitious materials to compensate for their (relatively) low tensile strengths and control possible cracks. Extensive past studies have identified effective strategies to mix and utilize the discrete fibers, but as the fiber material properties advance, so do the properties of the cementitious composites made with them. Thus, it is critical to have a state-of-the-art understanding of not only the effects of individual fiber types on various properties of concrete, but also how those properties are influenced by changing the fiber type. For this purpose, the current study provides a detailed review of the relevant literature pertaining to different fiber types considered for fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) applications with a focus on their capabilities, limitations, common uses, and most recent advances. To achieve this goal, the main fiber properties that are influential on the characteristics of cementitious composites in the fresh and hardened states are first investigated. The study is then extended to the stability of the identified fibers in alkaline environments and how they bond with cementitious matrices. The effects of fiber type on the workability, pre- and post-peak mechanical properties, shrinkage, and extreme temperature resistance of the FRC are explored as well. In offering holistic comparisons, the outcome of this study provides a comprehensive guide to properly choose and utilize the benefits of fibers in concrete, facilitating an informed design of various FRC products.

Strengthening of RC Beams Using SCC Jacket Consisting of Glass Fiber and Fiber-Silica Fume Composite Gel

“…The results showed that the use of 2% steel fibers can play an effective role in improving the bearing capacity of beams made with recycled materials [18]. According to studies, tensile, compressive, and flexural concrete strengths can be significantly increased using fiber [6,19,20]. In a number of mentioned studies, it has been observed that steel fibers have been used in concrete jackets.…”

“…These methods can include methods such as changing the lateral-resisting system (brace or shear wall), adding steel plates (steel jacket), using concrete jackets, using reinforced polymer fiber, using fiber concrete, shotcrete, and using near-surface mounted composite rebars, etc. [6][7][8][9]. Nowadays, strengthening and rehabilitation of beams, which are essential members of structural frames, have been investigated.…”

Effects of cyclic carbonation and chloride ingress on durability properties of mortars containing Trass and Pumice natural pozzolans

“…The transport of corrosive agents to concrete is significantly increased when cracks are generated and propagated in concrete which can be controlled by using fibers. The crack mitigation effects of fiber addition to concrete is extensively investigated in an effort by Shafei et al 3 According to the scientific point of view, when the amount of chloride concentration in concrete environment reaches a specific limit, defined as critical content ( C crit ), depassivation of rebars occurs 4 . According to the investigations, it can be generally concluded that the use of SCMs in concrete results in improvement of durability against chloride ingress by decreasing chloride permeability, 5–8 making concrete's interfacial transition zone (ITZ) denser, optimizing the pore structure, and reasonably enhancing the pore size distribution, 9 and increasing chloride binding by using alumina rich SCMs 10–12 …”

Deflection Estimation Based on the Thermal Characteristics of Composite Deck Slabs Containing Macro-Synthetic Fibers

“…Moreover, macro-synthetic fiber is an economical material because it can replace shrinkage and temperature reinforcement and can reduce the reinforcing bar work. According to previous studies, polypropylene (PP) fibers are effective in preventing an explosion of concrete [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Macro-synthetic fibers made of polypropylene have a melting point that is approximately 160 °C lower than that of steel or glass fibers.…”

“…To quantitatively evaluate deflection during a fire for a deck slab incorporated with macro-synthetic fibers, the creep strain based on the concrete temperature change according to the Anderberg model [20] and the thermal strain of the reinforcing bar as proposed by Eurocode 2 were applied [15]. The strain of concrete is equal to Equation (7) and the thermal strain of reinforcement is equal to Equation ( 8 When assuming that the deflection caused by the thermal load occurs due to the moment at the end, it can be calculated according to the general curvature derivation process. A case in which deflection occurs in a simply supported member is shown in Equations ( 9) and (10):…”