Fiber Reinforcement For Concrete Has Its Advantages
The construction standard and most widely used method of reinforcing concrete in structural building is embedding rebar steel rods. Rebar rods are ridged on the surface to enable them better functioning as a stabilizer. This method greatly adds to the overall life span of a building, and gives it the ability to better withstand stresses such as weight shifting, earthquakes, and sudden or repetitive impact force. However, not all concrete surfaces or slabs are able to house embedded steel for technical purposes. Fiber reinforcement is a way to alternate reinforcement materials, but maintain the purpose of high tensile strength.
Fiber Reinforcement
Steel rebar, whether epoxy-coated or not, has a tendency to interfere with magnetic and radio wave applications. Some medical or radio tag reading machines cannot work properly in buildings with steel reinforcement in their shells. Fiber reinforced plastic rebar is used in these instances. Plastic rebar can be as strong as steel, and presents some interesting advantages. Because there is no corrosion issue, concrete cover is moot. This can subtract from a structure’s total weight and add to its lifespan. A disadvantage of fiber reinforced plastic rebar is its limited fire resistance.
Fiber reinforcement is most commonly used with shotcrete, a spray to compaction form of concrete or mortar. General materials used are steel, glass, or plastic. Fiber reinforcement is less expensive than standard rebar, but just as strong. Ductility is an issue with steel, as it presents the highest level compared to glass or plastic fibers. Some newer fiber materials being experimented with and implemented are basalt and carbon.