Fibers EB001 –Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures—14th Edition, 2002, Chapter 7, pages 121 to 128
Types of Fibers Steel Glass Synthetic Natural Fig. 7-1. Steel, glass, synthetic and natural fibers with different lengths and shapes can be used in concrete. (69965)
Effects of Different Fibers on Concrete Properties Type of Fiber Reduced plastic shrinkage cracking Synthetic, Steel Increased tensile strength Glass, Steel, Carbon Increased flexural strength Glass
Steel Fibers Fig. 7-2. Steel fibers with hooked ends are collated into bundles to facilitate handling and mixing. During mixing the bundles separate into individual fibers. (69992) Fig. 7-3. Bridge deck with steel fibers. (70007)
Properties of Steel Fibers Relative density Diameter, µm (0.001 in.) Tensile strength, MPa (ksi) Modulus of elasticity, MPa (ksi) Strain at failure, % 7.80 100-1000 500-2600 210,000 0.5-3.5 (4-40) (70-380) (30,000) Table 7-1. Properties of Selected Fiber Types. Adapted from PCA (1991) and ACI 544.1R-96.
Application and Fabrication Methods of Steel Fibers Conventionally mixed—used for Overlays Shotcrete Stabilization of rockslopes Tunnel linings Coal mine shaft linings Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete Fig. 18-13. Shotcrete. (70018)
Slurry-Infiltrated Concrete (SIFCON) Cement 1000 kg/m3 (1686 lb/yd3) Water 330 kg/m3 (556 lb/yd3) Siliceous Sand 0.7 mm 860 kg/m3 (1450 lb/yd3) Silica Slurry 13 kg/m3 (1.3 lb/yd3) High-Range Water Reducer 35 kg/m3 (3.7 lb/yd3) Steel Fibers (about 10 Vol.-%) 800 kg/m3 (84 lb/yd3) Fig. 7-4. Tightly bunched steel fibers are placed in a form, before cement slurry is poured into this application of slurry-infiltrated steel-fiber concrete (SIFCON). (60672) Table 7-2. SIFCON Mix Design.
Glass Fibers Fig. 7-5. (top) Glass-fiber-reinforced concrete panels are light and strong enough to reduce this building’s structural requirements. (bottom) Spray-up fabrication made it easy to create their contoured profiles. (60671, 46228)
Properties of Glass Fibers Glass fiber type Relative density Diameter, µm (0.001 in.) Tensile strength, MPa (ksi) Modulus of elasticity, MPa (ksi) Strain at failure, % E 2.54 8-15 2000-4000 72,000 3.0-4.8 (0.3-0.6) (290-580) (10,400) AR 2.70 12-20 1500-3700 80,000 2.5-3.6 (0.5-0.8) (220-540) (11,600) Table 7-1. Properties of Selected Fiber Types. Adapted from PCA (1991) and ACI 544.1R-96.
Synthetic Fibers Acrylic Aramid Carbon Nylon Polyester Polypropylene (Photo) Fig. 7-7. Polypropylene fibers are produced either as (left) fine fibrils with rectangular cross section or (right) cylindrical monofilament. (69993)
Properties of Synthetic Fibers Synthetic fiber type Relative density Diameter, µm Tensile strength, MPa Modulus of elasticity, MPa Strain at failure, % Acrylic 1.18 5-17 200-1000 17,000-19,000 28-50 Aramid 1.44 10-12 2000-3100 62,000-120,000 2-3.5 Carbon 1.90 8-0 1800-2600 230,000-380,000 0.5-1.5 Nylon 1.14 23 1000 5,200 20 Polyester 1.38 10-80 280-1200 10,000-18,000 10-50 Poly-ethylene 0.96 25-1000 80-600 5,000 12-100 Poly-propylene 0.90 20-200 450-700 3,500-5,200 6-15 Table 7-1. Properties of Selected Fiber Types. Adapted from PCA (1991) and ACI 544.1R-96. Metric
Properties of Synthetic Fibers Synthetic fiber type Relative density Diameter, 0.001 in. Tensile strength, ksi Modulus of elasticity, ksi Strain at failure, % Acrylic 1.18 0.2-0.7 30-145 2,500-2,800 28-50 Aramid 1.44 0.4-0.47 300-450 9,000-17,000 2-3.5 Carbon 1.90 0.3-0.35 260-380 33,400-55,100 0.5-1.5 Nylon 1.14 0.9 140 750 20 Polyester 1.38 0.4-3.0 40-170 1,500-2,500 10-50 Poly- ethylene 0.96 1-40 11-85 725 12-100 propylene 0.90 0.8-8 65-100 500-750 6-15 Table 7-1. Properties of Selected Fiber Types. Adapted from PCA (1991) and ACI 544.1R-96. Inch-Pound
Properties of Natural Fibers Natural fiber type Relative density Diameter, µm (0.001 in.) Tensile strength, MPa (ksi) Modulus of elasticity, MPa (ksi) Strain at failure, % Wood cellulose 1.50 25-125 (1-5) 350-2000 (51-290) 10,000-40,000 (1,500-5,800) Sisal 280-600 (40-85) 13,000-25,000 (1,900-3,800) 3.5 Coconut 1.12-1.15 100-400 (4-16) 120-200 (17-29) 19,000-25,000 (2,800-3,800) 10-25 Bamboo 50-400 (2-16) 350-500 (51-73) 33,000-40,000 (4,800-5,800) Jute 1.02-1.04 100-200 (4-8) 250-350 (36-51) 25,000-32,000 (3,800-4,600) 1.5-1.9 Elephant grass 425 180 (17) 4,900 (26) 4,900 (710) 3.6 Table 7-1. Properties of Selected Fiber Types. Adapted from PCA (1991) and ACI 544.1R-96.