Advantages of Steel Fibers in Concrete
Several advantages can be obtained from FIBMix Steel fiber , for example:
Concrete:
- Concrete Flexural Strength: Flexural bending strength can be increased by up to 3 times more than conventional concrete.
- Eliminate shrinkage cracks.
- Reduce curling.
- Increase in transverse and longitudinal joint spacing.
- Increased load-bearing capacity of concrete to reduce the concrete slab thickness.
- Load capacity is not diminished by concrete cracks.
- Increased concrete durability.
Resistance:
- Fatigue Resistance: An almost 1.5-time increase in fatigue strength.
- Abrasion Resistance: More effective composition against abrasion and spalling.
- Resistance to cavitation or erosion damage.
- Increased impact resistance.
- Improved flexural properties.
- Resistance to freezing and thawing.
Cost & Timing:
- Reduced site labor for managing steel reinforcement.
- Decrease in project cost.
- Even distribution of fibers throughout the concrete.
- Reduction in maintenance and repair cost.
- Can be used to fast track schedule.
- Easier positioning of joints.
- Multiple cost-saving advantages.
Environmental:
- Reduced absorption of water, chemicals, etc.
- Reduces surface permeability, dusting and wear.
Quality & Durability:
- Tougher surface with fewer bleed holes.
- Preventing/delaying crack propagation.
- SFRC distributes localized stresses.
- SFRC acts as a crack arrestor.
- Provides tough and durable surfaces.
- Increases tensile strength and durability.
The uses of Steel fiber in concrete can improve its many properties. The benefits of using Steel fibers in concrete are as follows:
1. Steel fibers are generally distributed throughout a given cross-section, whereas reinforcing bars or wires are placed only where required.
2. Steel fibers are relatively short and closely spaced as compared with continuous reinforcing bars of wires.
3. It is generally not possible to achieve the same area of reinforcement to an area of concrete using steel fibers as compared to using a network of reinforcing bars of wires.
4. Steel fibers are typically added to concrete in low volume dosages (often less than 1%), and be effective in reducing plastic shrinkage cracking.
5. Steel fibers typically do not significantly alter free shrinkage of concrete, however, at high enough dosages they can increase the resistance to cracking and decrease crack width.