FORCETECH

What is Steel Fibre?

What is Steel Fibre?

Steel Fibres mixed into the concrete can provide an alternative to the provision of conventional steel bars or welded fabric in some applications. The concept has been in existence for many years (the first patent was applied for in 1874) and it has been used in a limited range of applications, among the first major uses was the patching of bomb craters in runways during World War II. However, it was during the 1970’s that commercial use of this material began to gather momentum, particularly in Europe, Japan, and the USA.

 

 

Effect of Fibres Utilized with Concrete

Fiber reinforced concrete is a composite material comprised of Portland cement, aggregate, and fibres. Normal unreinforced concrete is brittle with a low tensile strength and strain capacity. The function of the irregular fibres distributed randomly is to fill the cracks in the composite. Fibres are generally utilized in concrete to manage the plastic shrink cracking and drying shrink cracking. They also lessen the permeability of concrete and therefore reduce the flow of water. Some types of fibres create greater impact, abrasion, and shatter resistance in the concrete. Usually fibres do not raise the flexural concrete strength. The quantity of fibres required for a concrete mix is normally determined as a percentage of the total volume of the composite materials. The fibres are bonded to the material and allow the fibre reinforced concrete to withstand considerable stresses during the post-cracking stage. The actual effort of the fibres is to increase the concrete toughness.