Advantages of Fibre Reinforced Concrete

Many construction projects require the use of reinforced concrete because of the stresses and strains the structure will be placed under. For instance, it’s widely used on farms because the driveways, paths and tracks need to cope with the weight of heavy agricultural vehicles; factories are also a big user because the floors need to support heavy machinery; and even shops, restaurants and offices benefit from reinforced concrete as their businesses have a much greater footfall than the average family home.

Concrete company Madmix, who are based near Cambridge, can supply fibre reinforced concrete to customers in Newmarket, St Ives, Huntingdon and the surrounding area. Here we explain some of the key advantages this particular type of admixture offers.

It Makes the Concrete More Durable

Unreinforced concrete has a shorter lifespan compared to its fibre reinforced counterpart. This is because the fibres can help the concrete withstand harsher weather conditions, meaning that freeze-thaw cycles are less likely to be a problem.

It also has higher tensile strength (which means it is less likely to crack or break under any form of tension, such as if it is pulled in any direction) and can withstand chemical spills better than unreinforced concrete.

Fibre reinforced concrete structures can also offer greater impact resistance (particularly in areas which have been hit by earthquakes), reducing the risk of collapse and minimising any structural damage. Polypropylene fibre admixtures also offer greater corrosion resistance compared to concrete which has been reinforced with steel.

It Reduces Plastic Cracking

Plastic shrinkage cracks are caused by excessive drying from the surface of any exposed concrete, just after it has been poured or placed in position. (The word ‘plastic’ is used because this is a widely recognised term for concrete’s state when it is still wet). The water evaporates on the surface at a faster rate than any moisture moves upwards towards the surface to replace it (the latter is a process known as ‘bleeding’).

If the evaporation occurs at a faster rate, there is a net loss of water from the surface layer of concrete, leading to a net reduction in volume. The surface layer tries to shrink but it can’t because the underlying layers of concrete are not subject to the same reduction in volume. The result is that tensile stresses develop in the surface layer and cracks form.

A fibre reinforced admixture helps to avoid this problem because the fibres help to retain the structural integrity of the concrete, reducing the frequency and width of any cracks which do form.

Fibre Reinforced Concrete from Madmix, a Concrete Company near Cambridge

At Madmix, we can offer fibre reinforced concrete to our customers in and around Newmarket, St Neots, and Ely, as well as Cambridge. You can use our website’s concrete calculator to determine how much you will need; and if you order too much, then we can take away any excess at no extra cost to yourself.

We also offer concrete admixtures which have been reinforced with steel as well, as some construction projects require this. This should be decided at an early stage and the local planning authority is often involved. If steel reinforced concrete is needed, it is important that you let us know at an early stage, as this could affect the type of mix which is suitable for your order.

If you would like to know more about any of our admixtures – and we also offer unreinforced varieties for small-scale domestic projects where supporting heavy loads isn’t such an important factor – then you can either call us on 01954 212212 or follow this link and complete the online form. You can also email us at info@madmix.co.uk.