ABSTRACT

The early theoretical studies of FRC in the 1960s [e.g. 1 ,2] dealt primarily with the behaviour of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC). Since then, SFRC has become the most commonly-used fibre concrete, though it is fast being overtaken by synthetic fibre reinforced concrete (see Chapter 10). Steel fibres greatly increase the toughness of cements and concretes. Originally, they were used primarily for crack control, to replace the secondary reinforcement often used for that purpose in flat slabs, pavements and tunnel linings, as well as in various repair applications. Today, while steel fibres are still used extensively for those purposes, they are also used increasingly in truly structural applications, either to replace conventional steel reinforcement, or to act in a complementary fashion with it (see Chapter 14).