ABSTRACT
In the wider literature, one finds references to both fibre-reinforced cement and fibre-reinforced concrete. The fibres are intended to provide primary reinforcement, i.e. substantially enhancing a key property such as bending strength or toughness and the composite containing them is more correctly referred to as primary fibre-reinforced cements and concretes (FRC). Several FRC parameters pertain to the matrix, fibre and composite. The unit reinforcement element in FRC is often not a single filament but some grouping or bundle of fibres. In monofilament FRC, the matrix fully surrounds each individual filament and/or the filaments are dispersed rather than grouped. The bundle is not necessarily intended to disperse such that each individual filament is completely surrounded by matrix; fibres in the centre of the bundle may remain uncoated by matrix, which allows the bundle to remain flexible.
