Unreinforced concrete has low tensile strength and low strain capacity. The function of the fibers is to fill cracks in the concrete mixture. Fibers are used in concrete mixtures to manage the plastic shrink cracking and drying shrink cracking. It also lessens the permeability of concrete which reduces the flow of water. The fibers are bonded to the concrete and allow the fiber reinforced concrete to withstand considerable stresses during the post-cracking stage. The actual effort of the fiber is to increase the concrete toughness.
Steel Fiber reinforced concrete has advanced from a new, rather unproven material to one which has now attained acknowledgment in numerous engineering applications. Lately it has become more frequent to use steel fiber instead of steel reinforcement. The most common applications are tunnel linings, slabs and airport pavements.
