Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Fiber Reinforced Concrete shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Fiber Reinforced Concrete offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Fiber Reinforced Concrete at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Fiber Reinforced Concrete? Wrong! If the Fiber Reinforced Concrete is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Fiber Reinforced Concrete then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Fiber Reinforced Concrete? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Fiber Reinforced Concrete and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Fiber Reinforced Concrete wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Fiber Reinforced Concrete then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Fiber Reinforced Concrete site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Fiber Reinforced Concrete, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Fiber Reinforced Concrete, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is
concrete containing fibrous material which increases its structural integrity.
Historical perspective
The concept of using fibers as reinforcement is not new. Fibers have been used as reinforcement since ancient times. Historically, horsehair was used in mortar (masonry) and
straw in mud
bricks. In the early 1900s, asbestos fibers were used in concrete, and in the 1950s the concept of composite materials came into being and fiber reinforced concrete was one of the topics of interest. There was a need to find a replacement for the asbestos used in concrete and other building materials once the
carcinogen associated with the substance were discovered. By the 1960s, steel, glass (
Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)), and synthetic fibers such as polypropylene fibers were used in concrete, and research into new fiber reinforced concretes continues today
Effect of fibers in concrete
Fibers are usually used in concrete to control Plasticity (physics) shrinkage cracking and drying shrinkage cracking. They also lower the
permeability (fluid) of concrete and thus reduce bleeding of water. Some types of fibers produce greater impact, abrasion and shatter resistance in concrete. Generally fibers do not increase the flexural Strength of materials of concrete, so it can not replace moment (physics) resisting or structural steel reinforcement. Some fibers reduce the strength of concrete.
Some developments in fiber reinforced concrete
The newly developed FRC named
Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) is 500 times more resistant to cracking and 40 percent lighter than traditional concrete. ECC can sustain strain-hardening up to several percent strain, resulting in a material ductility of at least two orders of magnitude higher in comparison to normal concrete or standard fiber reinforced concrete. ECC also has unique cracking behavior. When loaded to beyond the elastic range, ECC maintains crack width to below 100 µm, even when deformed to several percent tensile strains.
Recent studies performed on high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete in a bridge deck found that adding fibers provides residual strength and controls cracking. There were fewer and narrower cracks in the FRC even though the FRC had more shrinkage than the control. The residual strength is directly proportional to the fiber content.
A new kind of natural fiber reinforced concrete (NFRC) made of cellulose fibers processed from genetically modified slash pine trees are giving good results. The cellulose fibers are longer and greater in diameter than other lumber sources.Some studies were performed on using waste carpet fibers in concrete in an environment friendly approach to recycle carpet waste. A carpet typically consists of two layers of backing (usually fabrics from polypropylene tape yarns), joined by CaCO3 filled styrene-butadiene latex rubber (SBR), and face fibers (majority being nylon 6 and nylon 66 textured yarns). Such nylon and polypropylene fibers can be used for concrete reinforcement. Studies have shown that FRC containing carpet waste show adequate structural qualities to make it a feasible choice for recycling and thus reducing need for
landfilling.
Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is concrete containing fibrous material which increases its structural integrity.
Historical perspective
The concept of using fibers as reinforcement is not new. Fibers have been used as reinforcement since ancient times. Historically,
horsehair was used in mortar (masonry) and
straw in mud
bricks. In the early 1900s,
asbestos fibers were used in concrete, and in the 1950s the concept of
composite materials came into being and fiber reinforced concrete was one of the topics of interest. There was a need to find a replacement for the asbestos used in concrete and other building materials once the carcinogen associated with the substance were discovered. By the 1960s, steel, glass (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)), and synthetic fibers such as polypropylene fibers were used in concrete, and research into new fiber reinforced concretes continues today
Effect of fibers in concrete
Fibers are usually used in concrete to control
Plasticity (physics) shrinkage cracking and drying shrinkage cracking. They also lower the permeability (fluid) of concrete and thus reduce bleeding of water. Some types of fibers produce greater impact, abrasion and shatter resistance in concrete. Generally fibers do not increase the flexural Strength of materials of concrete, so it can not replace
moment (physics) resisting or
structural steel reinforcement. Some fibers reduce the strength of concrete.
Some developments in fiber reinforced concrete
The newly developed FRC named Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) is 500 times more resistant to cracking and 40 percent lighter than traditional concrete. ECC can sustain strain-hardening up to several percent strain, resulting in a material
ductility of at least two orders of magnitude higher in comparison to normal concrete or standard fiber reinforced concrete. ECC also has unique cracking behavior. When loaded to beyond the elastic range, ECC maintains crack width to below 100 µm, even when deformed to several percent tensile strains.
Recent studies performed on high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete in a bridge deck found that adding fibers provides residual strength and controls cracking. There were fewer and narrower cracks in the FRC even though the FRC had more shrinkage than the control. The residual strength is directly proportional to the fiber content.
A new kind of natural fiber reinforced concrete (NFRC) made of
cellulose fibers processed from genetically modified slash pine trees are giving good results. The cellulose fibers are longer and greater in diameter than other lumber sources.Some studies were performed on using waste carpet fibers in concrete in an environment friendly approach to recycle carpet waste. A carpet typically consists of two layers of backing (usually fabrics from polypropylene tape yarns), joined by CaCO3 filled styrene-butadiene latex rubber (SBR), and face fibers (majority being nylon 6 and nylon 66 textured yarns). Such nylon and polypropylene fibers can be used for concrete reinforcement. Studies have shown that FRC containing carpet waste show adequate structural qualities to make it a feasible choice for recycling and thus reducing need for
landfilling.
