It’s a well known fact that concrete is one of the strongest materials that the construction industry has at its disposal. It’s one of the many reasons why it’s also the most commonly used man-made material on the planet.
Concrete generally comprises a mixture of cement, aggregates and water, which harden together to become supremely solid. The resulting blocks are strong enough for many construction purposes, but sometimes a project requires concrete that is even stronger. One way of achieving this is with the addition of certain types of fibres.
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In this article, we’re going to explore how fibre-reinforced concrete is such a useful tool in the construction armoury.
What is fibre-reinforced concrete?
Fibre-reinforced concrete is a type of concrete with greater structural integrity achieved by adding fibrous material to the concrete mix.
These fibres should be uniformly distributed throughout the mix. They also need to be randomly oriented – in other words, they have to be pointing in different directions for the required reinforcement to be met. Concrete has excellent compressive strength by its very nature, but the addition of fibres provides a significant increase in tensile strength as well.
As well as improving the structural integrity of the concrete, adding fibres can also make the concrete more resistant to the effects of freezing and thawing.
Fibre-reinforced concrete is a more cost-effective solution than using steel mesh. It can also save time on a project if you add it to the mix off site and have it delivered ready to be poured.
Fibre Reinforced Concrete in Kent
If you’re looking for fibre reinforced concrete for your home or commercial project in Kent, Stewart Brothers Concrete are here to help. Visit our dedicated page or call our friendly and experienced team to learn more.
Fibre Reinforced ConcreteWhat are the fibres in reinforced concrete?
Today, we use a number of different materials to make up the fibres used to reinforce concrete. These include:
Natural fibre reinforced concrete
Natural fibre-reinforced concrete has the immediate obvious benefit of being a far more environmentally friendly choice than man-made alternatives.
In days gone by, it wasn’t unusual for horsehair to be added to plaster and bricks to increase their strength, but these days we use plant and vegetable matter such as wood, hemp, flax and sisal.
Having said that, it is still possible to use fibres of animal origin, such as wool, hair fibres and silk.
As well as being better for the planet, natural fibres are also more easily sourced, making them the cheapest option and ideal for use in developing countries.
Steel fibre reinforced concrete
Probably the toughest of the available options, steel fibres are highly durable and provide exceptional strength and resistance to structural failure.
Steel fibre-reinforced concrete can also reduce damage that might result from a heavy impact and has a very high melting point, so is ideal for industrial settings.
It’s not all good news with steel, however, because it is one of the pricier and heavier options. It’s also harder to distribute evenly throughout the concrete, which could mean unreliable and uneven strength.
Plastic fibre reinforced concrete
Plastic fibre-reinforced concrete – usually made from polyester, nylon or polypropylene – is significantly lighter than steel but has a far higher level of flexibility, meaning that it has an even greater resistance to cracking and structural failure.
Being lighter makes this solution easier to handle and presents less of a problem when it comes to getting the fibres evenly distributed into the concrete mix.
If you need the concrete in your construction project to have greater structural strength, the team at Stewart Brothers Concrete can work with you to determine the best choice from the range of reinforcement materials available.
We supply fibre-reinforced concrete to customers in and around Ashford, Dover and Sittingbourne, with rapid delivery to suit your schedule and the demands of your particular project.
Get in touch now to find out more, discuss your needs in detail or place an order.