Fiber-reinforced concrete: what is it, composition, qualities, application

Everyone, probably, had to hear the word "fiber-reinforced concrete". What it is, you could not help but interest. This material is a particularly strong type of concrete, which is reinforced throughout the area by the method of reinforcement with metallic and non-metallic fibers. The latter are called fiber fibers.

What is fiber-reinforced concrete

If you are interested in the question of what is fiber, then you should familiarize yourself with what it is. So, for the manufacture of fiber concrete use a variety of materials, namely:

• Steel wire;
• Polypropylene fiber;
• Polyamide;
• Asbestos;
• Carbonic;
• Polyester;
• Viscose;
• Polyethylene;
• Basaltic;
• Carbon;
• Acrylic;
• fiberglass;
• Nylon and cotton threads.

The most common is steel fiber, it is a piece of wire, the diameter of which varies from 0.1 to 0.5 mm, while the length can be equal to the limit of 1 to 5 cm. Glass fiber is also quite common, because it has excellent technical characteristics .

Basalt and carbon fiber are more expensive, so they are not used so often. Fibroconcrete, what is it, you should know, if you plan to use it in construction, can be manufactured with the addition of viscose, nylon or cotton yarns that are mixed with steel wire. This significantly reduces the cost of production and allows you to obtain a material with different properties.

Key Features

Fiber-concrete has a number of distinctive characteristics, among them it should be noted:

• High tensile and tensile strength;
• Resistance to weathering and chemical substances;
• No shrinkage;
• Water resistance;
• High plasticity;
• Impact resistance;
• Resistance to abrasion;
• Resistance to cracking;
• Fire resistance;
• Frost resistance;
• Increased modulus of elasticity.

If you look at fiber-reinforced concrete in a section, it will be a homogeneous structure, which is permeated through the entire thickness with a thin fiber located in different directions. Depending on what kind of fiber is used, the properties of concrete and the nature of the inclusions will change.

Characteristics of fiber-reinforced concrete depending on fiber

Fibre-concrete, what it is, should be known to every specialist of the construction field, is a material whose properties vary depending on the quality of the fiber. For example, steel fiber, which is often used in the manufacture of concrete, gives the material increased tensile strength and tear.

Such material does not shrink, is not covered by cracks during use and is distinguished by its durability. Among the additional advantages can be identified durability and strength. If you add steel fibers to concrete, the material will be waterproof, frost-resistant and heat-resistant. If you want to get a material with a high modulus of elasticity, you should add a glass fiber. Concrete is obtained by plastic, however glass is not resistant to alkaline medium.

Concrete is additionally impregnated with polymers to increase the chemical resistance of the material. To the ingredients in the manufacturing process are added substances that bind alkali. For the same purpose, an aluminous cement-based mortar is used. The material will be characterized by high impact resistance, water resistance, thermal stability and abrasion resistance.

Fibro-concrete, what is it, is interesting to every novice master, is a material to which asbestos fiber can be added. As a result, it is possible to obtain a durable material resistant to high temperature and alkalis, characterized by high strength. The material with such a fiber is called asbestotsementom. If it is a filler in the form of basalt fiber, then before you the material with increased strength.

In some cases, polyethylene, polypropylene and other synthetic fibers are used. They are able to impart material properties to the type of high tensile strength, resistance to chemicals, resistance to critical temperatures. Fiber-reinforced concrete does not conduct electricity. This type of fiber reduces the weight of the structures, which is relevant for certain types of work.

Application

Fiber-concrete, the use of which is quite common today, is used in many areas of construction and industry. This is ensured by the high technical characteristics of the material. With its help, designs are made, to which strict requirements are imposed on the weight. This can be a building for domestic and industrial purposes.

Stalefibrobeton, for example, is used for the manufacture of foundations, sleepers, bank shelterbelts, decking and bridges. This material is used in the arrangement of industrial tunnels and floors. If you add to the ingredients steel fiber, then eventually the material can be used in the arrangement of landing and take-off strips and in road construction, as well as laying the sidewalk. Steelfibreconcrete is also used as a high-strength coating. It goes on the manufacture of curbs and tiles.

Additional Area

Often such concrete is used in the construction of concrete monolithic structures and building frames. The properties of fiber-reinforced concrete with steel fiber allow using it in the arrangement of drainage shafts and channels of sewage wells, dams and water treatment tanks. The floor of such material will be able to undergo high loads, which is necessary for the erection of agricultural and industrial buildings. Glass fiber-reinforced concrete is an indispensable material in the arrangement of noise shields, which are installed along busy roads.

The material for waterproofing works is used in the construction of water treatment plants. Suitable material for decorative finishing, because fiberglass has not only strength, but also decorative. That is why it can be used for facade decoration of buildings. The surface of the material does not absorb pollution and is easy to clean.

Use of glass fiber reinforced concrete

If the concrete will contain fiberglass, then products from it can be used for the manufacture of visors, benches, fences, and other products. Basalt fiber makes it possible to manufacture structures that will undergo high loads during operation. Manufacture of such ingredients can be foundations, car parks, concrete floors and road surfaces. Dams, railway structures, tanks and other structures can be built.

Polypropylene fiber goes to the manufacture of concrete, which is used in the production of cellular concrete, light structures and structures, as well as foam blocks. Viscose and cotton threads are used in foreign production of textile concrete.

Cost of fiber-reinforced concrete

Fiber-concrete, the price of which can vary depending on the brand of material, has a certain amount of fiber per cubic meter. If this parameter is equal to 30%, then the price of fiber-concrete M-150 will be 3400 rubles. If the brand increases to M-200, then the price increases to 3600 rubles. For the M-250 will have to pay 3,700 rubles., While for the M-300 - 3,800 rubles. Fibro-concrete of mark M-350 costs already 3900 rbl.

Some companies today offer fiber-reinforced concrete with different fillers, which you can choose yourself or use the help of specialists in this matter. In the end, it will be possible to obtain a material that, for example, will have a higher impact strength, water resistance, tensile strength and shear.

The price of fiber-reinforced concrete should not be alarming. It is so low for the reason that the production technology is not too complicated. For manufacturing it is necessary only to mix cement, sand, water and a large aggregate in the type of crushed stone. Among the ingredients will be present a certain amount of dispersed fibers, which are called fibers.

Characteristics of some types of fiber

Choosing this or that fiber for the manufacture of concrete, you get a material with certain characteristics. For example, polypropylene fiber has a density that is 0.9 g / cm ³ . Modulus of elasticity varies from 3500 to 8000 MPa. The tensile strength varies from 400 to 700 MPa. With regard to elongation at break, it varies from 10 to 25%.

Basalt fiber has a higher density, which varies from 2.6 to 2.7 g / cm ³ . The modulus of elasticity varies from 7000 to 11000 MPa, the tensile strength varies from 1600 to 3200 MPa. As for elongation at break, it varies from 1.4 to 3.6%. The steel fiber has an even higher density, which is 7.8 g / cm ³ . The modulus of elasticity and tensile strength vary from 190000 to 210000 and from 600 to 3150 MPa, respectively. Elongation at break is 3 or 4%.

Whatever the fiber is capable of improving the characteristics of concrete, it eventually has significant advantages over traditional concrete. Fiber-concrete has not only light weight and high compressive strength, but also high frost resistance, as well as a rather long service life, which is 20 times larger.

Fibreconcrete products: panels

Products made of fiber-reinforced concrete are used today everywhere. Among them it is necessary to distinguish panels that are large-format thin structures, reinforced all over the thickness of glass fiber. They are used for facing facades, as well as for interior decoration. Fibre-concrete panels combine strength, fire resistance, formability, low weight and authentic appearance. Panels made of fiber-reinforced concrete can be classified into:

• Facade;
• Concrete panels;
• Concrete siding;
• 3D-fiber-reinforced concrete;
• furniture;
• Small architectural forms ;
• Molded concrete elements ;
• Interior concrete panels.

Additional panel features

Fibre-concrete panels have a large size and smooth geometry, which can be achieved as a result of a four-week production cycle. The technology assumes mixing of concrete of the necessary color, casting on the forms of five layers of fiberglass. Two of them are woven into a network, while the other three are in a chaotic order. After a 28-day cycle of solidification of the material, the surface of the plates is treated, which gives the panels water-repellent properties.

Conclusion

What is fiber, you already know. It is a material used in the production of fiber-reinforced concrete. It, in turn, can be used for the manufacture of concrete fibro panels, which are distinguished by fire safety. These products have undergone fire tests and are able to undergo a temperature of up to 350 ° C. You can also use fiber-reinforced concrete in construction, because it has all the necessary documentation for use on the territory of Russia.