Unit – III

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES FOR REPAIR

Special concretes and mortar, concrete chemicals, special cements for accelerated
strength gain, Expansive cement, polymer concrete, sulphur infiltrated concrete, ferro cement,
Fibre reinforced concrete.

3.1 Special Concretes:

Note: For more Special Concretes please refer “Concrete Technology” by M.S. Shetty.
From Page 444 with the topic “Special concrete and concreting methods.
3.2 Special Mortar:
The following are the different types of special mortars available, they are
Cement-clay mortar
Light-weight and heavy mortars
Decorative mortar
Air-entrained mortar
Gypsum mortar
Fire-resistance mortar
Packing mortar
Sound absorbing mortar
X-ray shielding mortar
3.2.1 Cement-clay mortar
Here clay is introduced as an effective finely ground additive in quantities ensuring a
cement-clay proportion of not over 1:1. The addition of clay improves the grain
composition, the water retaining ability and the workability of mortar and also increases
the density of mortar.
This type of mortar has better covering power and can be used in thin layers.
3.2.2 Lightweight and Heavy mortars
Light weight mortars:
These are prepared form light porous sands fro pumice and other fine aggregates. They
are also prepared by mixing wood powder, wood shavings or saw dust with cement
mortar or lime mortar.
In such mortars, fibres of jute coir and hair, cut into pieces of suitable size, or asbestos
fibres can also be used.
These mortars have bulk density less than 15KN/m3.
Heavy weight mortars:
These are prepared from heavy quartz or other sands.
They have bulk density of 15 KN/m3 or more.
They are used in load bearing capacity.
3.2.3 Decorative mortars:
These mortars are obtained by using-
Colour cements or pigments and
Fine aggregate of appropriate color, texture and surface.
3.2.4 Air-entrained Mortar
The working qualities of lean cement-sand mortar can be improved by entraining air in
it(air serves as a plasticizer producing minute air bubbles which helps in flow
characteristics and workability)/
The air bubbles increase the volume of the binder paste and help to fill the voids in the
sand.
The air entraining also makes the mortar weight and a better heat and sound insulator.
3.2.5 Gypsum Mortar
These mortars are prepared from gypsum binding materials such as building gypsum and
anhydrite binding materials.
3.2.6 Fire Resistant Mortar
It is prepared by adding aluminous cement to a finely crushed power of fire-
bricks(Usually proportion being one part of aluminous cement to two parts of powder of
fire-bricks).
 This mortar being fire resistance, is used with fire-bricks for lining furnaces, fire places,
ovens etc.
3.2.7 Sound Absorbing mortar
These mortarts may have binging materials such as cement, lime, gypsum slag etc and
aggregate(light weight porous materials( such as pumice, cinders etc.
The bulk density of such a mortar varies from 6 to 12KN/m3.
Noise level can be reduced by using sound absorbing plaster formed with the help of
sound absorbing mortar.
3.3 Concrete Chemicals
Admixtures are used to modify the properties of fresh and hardened concrete. They
are classified as chemical and mineral admixtures. Chemical admixtures are used in construction
industry for building strong, durable and waterproof structures. Depending on their use, chemical
admixtures are used for the following four main purposes.
1. Some chemicals are mixed with concrete ingredients and spread throughout the body of
concrete to favorably modify the moulding and setting properties of the concrete mix.
Such chemicals are generally known as chemical admixtures Admixtures are added to
concrete to give it certain desirable properties in either the fresh or the hardened state.
Most admixtures result in modifying more than one intended property.
2. Some chemicals are applied on the surfaces of moulds used to form concrete to effect
easy mould-releasing operation.
3. Some chemicals are applied on the surfaces of concrete to protect it during or after its
setting.
4. Some chemicals are applied to bond or repair broken or chipped concrete.
3.3.1 Accelerators:
Accelerators reduce the setting time, generally produce early removal of forms and early setting
of concrete repair, and patch work. They are helpful in cold weather concreting. The most
common accelerator for plain concrete work Is calcium chloride (CaCl2). Its quantity in the
concrete mix is limited to 1-2% by weight of cement. The presence of CaCl2 can cause corrosion
of embedded steel. It reduces resistance against sulphate attack an may cause an alkali-aggregate
reaction. For prestressed and reinforced concrete CaC l2 cannot be used. Instead, calcium formate
is preferred as an accelerating admixture for such caoncretes. The properties and types of
accelerating admixtures are shown in fig. 3.1.

Properties

Shortens Setting Increases Early Aids Cold Weather

time Strength concreting

Types

Chloride containing Chloride-free

calcium chloride calcium formate
restricted to 1.5% for used for reinforced
plain concrete and prestressed
construction concrete members

Fig. 3.1 Accelerating Admixture

3.3.2 Retarders

Retarders increase the setting time of the concrete mix and reduce the water-cement ratio.
Usually up to 10% water reduction can be achieved. A wide range of water-reducing and set
retarding admixture s are used in ready mixed concrete. Usually, these chemicals are derived
from lignosulphonic acids and their salts, hydroxylated carboxylic acid and their salts and
sulphonated melamine or naphthalene formaldehyde.

They have a detergent like property. They work on the principle that water-reducing
agent migrate to the surface of water as shown in fig. this increases the surfaces activity and
hence imparts a soapy property to the mix and delays setting.

Properties

Surface Activity Retarding Hot weather

agent chemical activity concreting
Fig.3.2 Retarders

3.3.3 Plasticizers

A plasticizers is defined as an admixture added to wet concrete mix to impart adequate

workability properties. As shown in fig. plasticizers can be of the following three types.

1. finely divided minerals

2. air-entraining agents
3. Synthetic derivatives
 Workability Ad

Finely Divided Minerals Air-Entraining Agents Synthetic Detergents

Either cementitious or Produces Produces Soapy

pozzolanic discontinuous air action
bubbles

Fig.3.3 Types of Plasticizers

3.3.3.1 Finely divided minerals
They are either cementitious or pozzolanic. Natural cements, hydraulic lime and slag
cement belong to the former category, whereas fly ash and heat-treated clays belong to the latter.
They are used as workability aids. They help in reducing bleeding by way of adding finer
particiles to the mix.
3.3.3.2 Air-entraining agents
These help in protecting concrete subjected to repeated freeze thaw cycles. Concrete
with entrained air has higher workability and cohesiveness. Segregation and bleeding are
reduced by using air-entraining agents. These agents are generally used to ensure durability
against frost.
Air-entraining agents are derived from synthetic detergents, salts of sulphonated
lignin, fatty acids, organic salts of sulphonated hydrocarbons or salts of wood resins.
These agents create millions of tiny air bubbles which relieve the expansion pressure.
They result inn 9% increase in the volume of water, and osmotic pressure develops as water
diffuses from gel pores into the capillaries.
 The stability of the air voids between the cement gel and aggregate is also shown in the
figure. Some air-entraining agents react and produce adverse effects when used along with
accelerating ot set-retarding admixtures.
3.3.3.3 Synthetic Derivatives
Synthetic derivatives introduce soapy into the mix. These are surface-active agents and
are primarily added to increase workability. The best example of a synthetic derivative is
benezene sulphonate. Chemically they comprise the same chemicals as found in retarders and
hence they also generally retard the setting time.
These derivates may react differently with different types of cement. Hence, a careful
study of the type of cement is required before choosing a particular synthetic derivative.
3.3.3.4 Superplasticizers
Superplasticizers produce extreme workability and thus flowing concrete. They achieve
reduction in the water content without loss of workability. Their use generally leads to an overall
reduction in the cost.
Superplasticizers molecules and cement grains are oppositely charged and hence repel
each other. This increases the mobility and hence makes the concrete flow. Superplasticizers
enables savings in cement for a given strength and are ideal for pumping concrete, casting
heavily reinforced concrete members, and the precast elements of concrete.
3.4 Special Cements for accelerated Strength Gain
In repairs of certain strucutures, particularly roadways and bridges, it may be desired that
early strength gain should be as rapid as possible. The engineer may, as a first approach, consider
admixtures so that ordinary types of Portland cement can be used. The chief chemical admixture
now used for this purpose is superplasticizer.
Formerly high doses of calcium chloride were advocated but this procedure has been
rejected on the basis of corrosion, problems associated with calcium chloride use. The time of
setting of Portland cement concrete and its strength gain may be shortened by the use of calcium
aluminate cement. Because of problems associated with the conversion, under hot humid
conditions, of the calcium aluminate hydrates from one form to another, and the resultant
strength losses, other types of cements have been preferred.
Regulated set cement is a modified Portland cement which contains a substantial amount
of calcium fluoro-aluminate. The cement meal contains a substantial amount of fluorite as a
substitute for limestone. The burning process has a problem due to the release of small amounts
of fluoro compounds. When prepared and ground the initial and final set of this type of cement
occurs almost simultaneously and therefore the time between mixing and set is often referred to
as the handling time. As a rule, this varies between 2 to 45 minutes.
The strength level is adjusted by controlling the amount of calcium fluoro aluminate in the
cement. The time of set is reduced and the compressive strength gain increased in regulated
cement mortars and concrete by an increase in the cement content of the mix, reduction of the
water/cement ratio, increases temperature of the mix and increase in curing temperature.
The chemical reactions of this type of cement are much more energetic than those of
Portland cements. For that reason retardation is necessary. Conventional retarders for Portland
cement are not effective in controlling the set of regulated set cement. However, citric acid is
used in the mix as a retarder. Where practical, the setting action can be effectively controlled by
reducing the mix temperature. Such reductions in the temperature of the mix is also
advantageous, as the heat of hydration is considerably higher than that of Portland cement
concrete.
Special cements based on chemical reactions which are completely different from those of
normal Portland or similar cements are now part of the technology. These include fast-setting
magnesium phosphate and aluminium –phosphate cements, which when used for concrete
patching for pavements allow traffic flow after only 45 minutes.
3.5 Expansion cement
Concrete made with ordinary Portland cement shrinks while setting due to loss of free
water. Concrete also shrinks continuously for long time. This is known as drying shrinkage.
Cement used for grouting anchor bolts or grouting machine foundations or the cement used in
grouting the prestress concrete ducts, if shrinks, the purpose for which the grout is used will be
some extent defeated. There has been a search for such type of cement which will not shrink
while hardening and thereafter. As a matter of fact, a slight expansion with time will prove to be
advantageous for grouting purpose.
This type of cement which suffers no overall change in volume on drying is known as
expansion cement. Cement of this type has been developed by using an expanding agent and a
stabilizer very carefully. Proper material and controlled proportioning are necessary in order to
obtain the desired expansion.
 Generally, about 8-20 parts of the sulphoaluminate clinker are mixed with 100 parts of
the Portland cement and 15 parts of the stabilizer. Since expansion takes place only so long as
concrete is moist, curing must be carefully controlled. The use of expanding cement requires
skill and experience.
One type of expansive cement is known as shrinkage compensating cement. This cement
when used in concrete, with restrained expansion, induces compressive stresses which
approximately offset the tensile stress induced by shrinkage. Another similar type of cement is
known as self stressing cement. This cement when used in concrete induces significant
compressive stresses after the drying shrinkage has occurred. The induced compressive stresses
not only compensate the shrinkage but also give some sort of prestressing effects in the tensile
zone of the flexural member.
3.6 Polymer Concrete:
Polymer concrete is an aggregate bound with a polymer binder instead of Portland cement
as in conventional concrete.
The main technique in producing PC is to minimize void volume in the aggregate mass
so as to reach the quantity of polymer needed for binding the aggregates. This is achieved by
properly grading and mixing the aggregates to attain the maximum density and minimum void
volume. The graded aggregates are prepacked and vibrated in a mould. Monomer is then diffused
up through the aggregates and polymerization is initiated by radiation or chemical means. A
silane coupling agent is added to the monomer to improve the bond strength between the
polymer and the aggregate. In case polyester resins are used no polymerization is required.
An important reason for the development of this material is the advantage it offers over
conventional concrete where the alkaline Portland cement on curing, forms internal voids. Water
can be entrapped in these voids which on freezing can readily crack the concrete. Also the
alkaline Portland cement is easily attacked by chemically aggressive materials which results in
rapid deterioration, whereas polymers can be made compact with minimum voids and are
hydrophobic and resistant to chemical attack. The strength obtained with PC can be as high as
140 MPa with a short curing method.
However, such polymer concretes tend to be brittle and it is reported that dispersion of
fibre reinforcement would improve the toughness and tensile strength of the material. The use of
fibrous polyester concrete in the compressive region of reinforced concrete beams provides a
high strength, ductile concrete at reasonable cost. Also polyester concretes are viscoelastic in
nature and will fail under sustained compressive loading at stress levels greater than 50% of the
ultimate strength. Therefore, polyester concrete should be considered for structures with a high
ratio of live load to dead load and for composite structures in which the polymer concrete may
relax during long-term loading. Experiments conducted on FPC composite beams have indicated
that they are performance effective when compared to reinforced concrete beam of equal steel
reinforcement percentage. Such beams utilize steel in the region of high tensile stress, fibrous
polyester concrete (FPC) with its favorable compressive behavior, in the regions of high
compressive stress and Portland cement concrete in the regions of relatively low flexural stress.
Advantages
Advantages of polymer concrete include:
Rapid curing at ambient temperatures
High tensile flexural, and compressive strengths
Good adhesion to most surfaces
Good long-term durability with respect to freeze and thaw cycles
Low permeability to water and aggressive solutions
Good chemical resistance
Good resistance against corrosion
Lightweight
May be used in regular wood and steel formwork
May be vibrated to fill voids in forms
Allows use of regular form-release agents
Dialectric
Disadvantages
Some safety issues arise out of the use of polymer concrete. The monomers can be
volatile, combustible, and toxic. Initiators, which are used as catalysts, are combustible and
harmful to human skin. The promoters and accelerators are also dangerous. Polymer concretes
also cost significantly more than conventional concrete.
3.7 Sulphur-Infiltrated concrete
New type of composites have been produced by the recently developed techniques of
impregnating porous materials like concrete with sulphur. Sulphur impregnation has shown great
improvements in strength. Physical properties have been found to improve by several hundred
% and large improvements in water impermeability and resistance to corrosion have also been
achieved.
In the past, some attempts have been made to use sulphur as a building material instead
of cement. Sulphur is heated to bring it into molten condition to which coarse and fine
aggregates are pored and mixed together. On cooling, this mixture gave fairly good strength,
exhibited acid resistance and also other chemical resistance, but it proved to be costlier than
ordinary cement concrete.
Recently, use of sulphur was made to impregnate lean porous concrete to improve its
and
strength other useful properties considerably. In this method, the quantity of sulphur used is
also comparatively less and thereby the processes is made economical. It is reported that
compressive strength of about 100 MPa could be achieved in about 2 day‟s time.
The following procedure has been reported in making sulphur-Infiltrated concrete.
The concrete to be infiltrated should be produced using normal aggregate with aggregate-
cement ratios between 3:1 to 5:1 and having water-cement ratio preferably in the range 0.60 to
0.80. The infiltration procedure normally used consists of moist-curing of concrete elements for
24 hours at about 230C followed by drying (at 1210C) for a period of 24 hours, immersing dried
element in molten sulphur at 1210C under vacuum for two hours, releasing the vacuum and
soaking for an additional half an hour, and then removing the elements from molten sulphur to
cool. In case of low water-cement ratio, concretes which are relatively dense external pressure
may be applied following the release of vacuum to force sulphur into concrete. The foregoing
procedure may be modified to suit individual job conditions. However, the following points
should be kept in mind.
(i) For concretes with a water-cement ratio of the order of 0.65, the one-day-old elements must
be handled with care to avoid damage.
(ii) the drying temperature should be kept as high as possible but not exceeding 1500C since a
higher temperature may damage the gel-structure of the young hydrated cement paste. The
period of drying will depend on the type and size of element.
(iii) The period of vacuum, (evacuation time) appears to be less critical than the immersion time
in molten sulphur after evacuation. For concrete with water-cement ratio of about 0.55, increased
immersion time is essential to achieve full infiltration.
Durability:
Generally, the performance of sulphur-Infiltrated concrete is satisfactory against
freezing and thawing, seawater attack and wetting and drying. The sulphur-Infiltrated concrete is
more durable than conventional concrete in higher concentrations of H2So4 and HCl. When left
submerged in stagnant water over extended periods of time, slight leaching of sulphur may take
place and concrete may eventually show undesirable expansion followed by some cracking. The
instability of SIC in aqueous media is apparently related to the presence of polysulphide anions
formed during infiltration and found to be highly soluble in alkaline pore solutions of wet
concrete. The polysulphide and calcium ions (dissolved from concrete) form concentrated
calcium polusulphide, a yellow orange leachate. Under moist aerated conditions, it reacts with
oxygen to form sulphur efflorescence.
The strength properties of SIC are not significantly affected when it is exposed to short-
term temperature up to 1000C. at this temperature SIC exhibits certain amount of ductile
behavior before failure.
The magnitude of increase in abrasion resistance of SIC depends on the sulphur loading of
the test specimens. However, the sulphur filling of the pores in concrete provides an
uninterrupted path for heat flow resulting in increased values of thermal conductivity over that of
normal dry concrete.
The sulphur-Infiltrated concrete provides a corrosive protection to embedded steel. The
sulphur loading required for a given corrosion protection depends upon water-cement ratio used
in concrete. Higher the water-cement ratio, higher the sulphur loading required. The minimum
sulphur loading varies from 10% for 0.70 water-cement ratio to 5% for 0.40 water-cement ratio.
Applications:
The sulphur-Infiltrateed concrete is ideally suited for precast units such as
o Patio slabs
o Sidewalks
o Kerbs and
o Sewer pipes
3. FerroCement
Ferrocement is a type of thin reinforced concrete, constructed of cement mortar reinforced
with closely spaced layers of continuous and small diameter wire mesh.
 It is well known that conventional reinforced concrete members are too heavy, brittle,
which cannot be satisfactorily repaired if damaged, develop cracks and reinforcements are liable
to be corroded. These disadvantages of normal concrete make it inefficient for certain types of
work.
Ferrocement is a relatively new material consisting of wire meshes and cement mortar. It
consists of closely spaced wire meshes which are impregnated with rich cement mortar mix. The
wire mesh is usually of 0.5 to 1.0mm dia wire at 5mm to 10mm spacing and cement mortar is of
cement sand ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 with water/cement ratio of 0.4 to 0.45. The ferrocement elements
are usually of order of 2 to 3 cm in thickness with 2 to 5mm external cover to the reinforcement.
The steel content varies between 300 kg to 500 kg per cubic metre of mortar. The basic idea
behind this material is that concrete can undergo large strains in the neighbourhood of the
reinforcement and the magnitude of stains depends on the distribution and subdivision of
reinforcement throughout of the mass of concrete.
The main advantages are simplicity of its construction, lesser dead weight of the elements
due to their small thickness, its high tensile strength, less crack widths compared to conventional
concrete, easy repairability, noncorrosive nature and easier mouldability to any required shape.
This material is more suitable to special structures like shells which have strength through forms
and structures like roofs, silos, water tanks and pipelines.
Reinforcement
Skeletal reinforcement with closely spaced wires is the most commonly used
reinforcement in ferrocement. In the ferrocement a wire mesh is required to control the cracking
and skeleton steel to support the wire mesh. Use of fine meshes with thin wires at closer spacings
for effective crack control.
3.11.1 Types of Wire mesh reinforcement used in Ferrocement:
1) Hexagonal wire mesh
2) Square mesh
3) Three dimensional mesh
3.11.1.1 Hexagonal Wire Mesh:
Meshes with hexagonal openings are called chicken wire mesh. Diameter of wires varies
Between 0.5mm to 10mm, the grid size varies between 10mm to 25mm these meshes are more
flexible and easier to work with it, which means we can make it easily into desired shape.
3.11.1.2 Square Mesh:
Square mesh is made out of straight wires in both the longitudinal and transverse
directions. Thus welded-mesh thickness is equal to two wire diameters. Welded meshes are weak
at welded spots. Diameter varies between 1mm to 1.5mm. Grid size varies between 15 to 25mm.
3.11.1.3 Three Dimensional Mesh:
A three dimensional mesh is also available. A crimpled keeper wire frictionally locks
together three alternating layers of straight wire. The mesh is sufficiently thick so that in some
applications, only one layer is required.
3.11.2 Types of mortar for ferrocement:
1. Ordinary Cement Mortar
2. High Performance Mortar
3. Lightweight Aggregate Mortar
4. Fiber Reinforced Mortar
5. Polymer Mortar
3.11.2.1 Ordinary Cement Mortar:
Portland cement is used to make ordinarily cement mortar. The filter material is usually a
well-graded sand capable of passing 2.36mm sieve. However depending upon the characteristics
of the reinforcing material mortar may contain some small-size gravel.
The mix proportion ranges of the mortar for ferrocement are sand-cement ratio by weight,
1.4 to 2.5, water-cement ratio by weight, 0.3 to 0.5.
3.11.2.2 High Performance Mortar:
This mortar is similar to conventional cement mortar but it contains mineral admixture to
produce impermeable matrix. This enhances the durability of ferrocement by providing greater
protection to the steel reinforcement. By proper selection of chemical and mineral activities and
W/C ratio, FC mortar can reduce pore size considerably and thereby achieving very high strength
levels, which are not possible conventionally.
It having comprehensive strengths in the range of 50 to 100Mpa.
3.11.2.3 Light Weight Aggregate Mortar:
It is used to construct low-cost housing, Lightweight aggregate reduces the density of the
mortar. It helps in reduction of dead load, Lightweight aggregate are introduced replacing the
sand in the mortar, Lightweight aggregates reduce the thermal conductivity.
3.11.2.4 Fiber Reinforcement Mortar Composites
Fiber reinforcement mortar composites are produced by introducing small diameter
discontinuous fibers during mixing of mortar matrices, Fibers which have been produced from
steel, carbon, glass, nylon etc in various shapes & sizes thy posses high modulus of elasticity and
lead to strong and stiff composites.
In ferrocement applications very short length of 2mm to 12mm were used to increase their
properties. The short fibers was used in the composite, with the objective of improving the crack
resistance of the matrix. Short fibers can control micro cracking before the actual mortar cracks.
The long fibers were used to improve the post cracking behavior of the composites.
The length of these fibers allows them to bridge the cracks. The fibers can then transmit the
loads from the cracked matrix to uncracked matrix, which results in more ductility of composite.
3.11.2.5 Polymer Mortar:
To overcome the disadvantage of cement mortars and concretes, such as delayed
hardening, low tensile strength, high drying shrinkage and low chemical resistance, polymer
cement or polymer modified cement mortars are being used for man industrial application in the
form of protective coating for concrete.
Polymer modified mortar is obtained by the addition of polymer material to cement mortar
during resulting in a polymer modified mortar. The polymer fills of the capillary pores makes the
concrete impermeable.
Applications
Boats Construction
Sun Screens
Cylindrical shell roof
Folded plate roof
Water tank
3.12 Fibre Reinforced Concrete
FRC can be defined as a composites material, consisting of mixtures of cement mortar or
concrete and discontinuous, discrete uniformly dispersed suitable fibres.
Fibre is a small piece of reinforcing material that can be circular or flat.
Properties of FRC:
It have more tensile strength.
 Fibres improve the impact and abrasion resistance of concrete.
It posses high compressive strength.
It posses low thermal and electrical conductivity.
Aspect ratio
The fibre is often described by a convenient parameter called “aspect ratio”. The aspect
ratio of the fibre is the ratio of its length to its diameter. Typical aspect ratio ranges from 30 to
150.
Types of Fibres:
1. Steel Fibres
2. Glass Fibres
3. Polypropylene Fibres
4. Slurry Infiltrated Fibre Concrete (SIFCON)
5. Asbestos
6. Carbon
1. Steel Fibres
Steel fibre is one of the most commonly used fibre. Generally round fibres are used. The
diameter may vary from 0.25 to 0.75mm. The steel fibre is likely to get rusted and lose some of
its strength. But investigations have shown that the rusting of the fibres take place only at the
surface. Use of steel fibre makes significant improvements in flexural, impact and fatigue
strength of concrete. It has very high tensile strength of 1700N/mm2. Steel fibres are
incorporated in the shotcrete to improve its crack resistance, ductility and energy absorption and
impact resistance characteristics.

Applications
Industrial Flooring
Warehouses
Overlays
Tunneling
2. Glass Fibre
Glass fibre is a recent introduction in making fibre concrete. It has very high tensile
strength of 1020 to 4080 N/mm2 glass fibre which is originally used in conjunction with cement
was found to be affected by alkaline condition of cement. Therefore, alkaline resistant glass fibre
by trade name “CEM-FIL” has been developed and used.
o AR glass fibres have a density that is similar to that of concrete.
o It gives better bond between the concrete matrix and the reinforcement.
o It prevents crack.
The fibres also have elastic modulus which is significantly higher than concrete. This enables the
fibres to provide an effective reinforcement during the hardened stage of concrete.
Application
Noise Barriers
Water ducts and channels
Tunnel lining
Railways.
3. Polypropylene fibre:
They are having good resistance against shrinkage and temperature cracks. It is having low
modulus. They have longer elongation under a given load, which means they can absorb more
energy without fracture.
The low modulus fibres can be combined with steel fibres which is the latest trend what we
call hybrid technology. Its applicable for structure exposed to atmosphere. These fibres can take
care of the drying shrinkage where as steel cannot perform in wet condition.
Applications:
Area of application: Polypropylene fibres can be used for slabs on grade, airport,
highways, pavement, parking areas, bridge deck overlays, sewer pipes, precast concrete
products.

4. Slurry infiltrated fibre Concrete (SIFCON)

SIFCON is a high-strength, high performance concrete. It contains high volume

percentage of steel fibres. It is also called as high-volume fibrous concrete. The volume of steel
varies from 4 to 20 percent. SIFCON has no coarse aggregates. It contains fine sand and
additives such as fly ash, micro-silica and latex emulsions. Proportions of cement and sand
generally used for making SIFCON are 1:1, 1:1.5, or 1:2. Cement slurry alone can also be used
for some application. Generally, fly ash or silica fume equal to 10% to 15% by weight of cement
is used in the mix. The water cement ratio varies between 0.3 to 0.4.
Applications:
Proportions like ductility, crack resistance and penetration and impact resistance are very
high for SIFCON when compared to other materials, it is best suited for application in the
following areas.
Overlays, bridge decks
Seismic resistance structures
Precast concrete products
Military applications such anti-missile hangers, under-ground shelters
Aerospace launching platforms
Repair, rehabilitation and strengthening of structures
Concrete mega-structures such as offshore and long-span structures, solar towers etc.
5. Compact Reinforces Concrete (CRC)
CRC is a mixer of cementitious content and fine steel fibres and further reinforced with a
high concentration of continuous and uniformly placed larger steel bars. CRC has structural
similarities with reinforces concrete, but is much more heavily reinforced and exhibits
mechanical behavior more like that of structural steel, having almost the same strength and
extremely high ductility.
Applications:
It is best suited for the applications in the following areas:
Load carrying parts in large machines.
Special high-performance joints in conventional steel.

6. Asbestos
Asbestos is mineral fibre and has proved to be most successful of all fibres as it can be
mixed with Portland cement. Tensile strength of asbestos varies between 560 to 980N/mm2. The
composite product called asbestos cement has considerably higher flexural strength than the
Portland cement paste. For unimportant fibre concrete, organic fibres like coir, jute, cane splits
are also used.
Applications
Sheet pipe, boards, sewer pipes, wall lining etc.
7. Carbon:
Carbon fibres perhaps posses very high tensile strength 2110 to 2815 N/mm2 and young‟s
modulus. It has been reported that cement composite made with carbon fibre as reinforcement
will have very high modulus of elasticity and flexural strength. Carbon fibres concrete are used
to construct structures like cladding, panels and shells.