Advantages of Steel Fibers in Concrete
Several advantages can be obtained from FIBMix Steel fiber , for example:
Concrete:
- Flexural Strength: Flexural bending strength can be increased by up to 3 times more than conventional concrete.
- Eliminate shrinkage cracks.
- Reduce curling.
- Increase in transverse and longitudinal joint spacing.
- Increased load-bearing capacity of concrete to reduce the concrete slab thickness.
- Load capacity is not diminished by concrete cracks.
- Increased durability.
Resistance:
- Fatigue Resistance: An almost 1.5-time increase in fatigue strength.
- Abrasion Resistance: More effective composition against abrasion and spalling.
- Resistance to cavitation or erosion damage.
- Increased impact resistance.
- Improved flexural properties.
- Resistance to freezing and thaw
Cost & Timing:
- Reduced site labor for managing steel reinforcement.
- Decrease in project cost.
- Even distribution of fibers throughout the concrete.
- Reduction in maintenance and repair cost.
- Can be used to fast track schedule.
- Easier positioning of joints.
- Multiple cost-saving advantages.
Environmental:
- Reduced absorption of water, chemicals, etc.
- Reduces surface permeability, dust
Quality & Durability:
- Tougher surface with fewer bleed holes.
- Preventing/delaying crack propagation.
- SFRC distributes localized stresses.
- SFRC acts as a crack arrestor.
- Provides tough and durable surfaces.
- Increases tensile strength and durability.
The uses of Steel fiber in concrete can improve its many properties. The benefits of using Steel fibers in concrete are as follows:
- Steel fibers are generally distributed throughout a given cross-section, whereas reinforcing bars or wires are placed only where required.
- Steel fibers are relatively short and closely spaced as compared with continuous reinforcing bars of wires.
- It is generally not possible to achieve the same area of reinforcement to an area of concrete using steel fibers as compared to using a network of reinforcing bars of wires.
- Steel fibers are typically added to concrete in low volume dosages (often less than 1%), and be effective in reducing plastic shrinkage cracking.
- Steel fibers typically do not significantly alter free shrinkage of concrete, however, at high enough dosages they can increase the resistance to cracking and decrease crack width.
