Working with our fiber reinforcement suppliers, Cemstone’s RESOLVE Engineering Services Team welcomes the opportunity to assist you and your designer in replacing traditional reinforcing steel with Cemstone’s RESOLVE Fiber Matrix. This system of synthetic and steel fibers has been selected to offer superior performance when it comes to replacing welded-wire fabric and reinforcing bars for temperature and shrinkage crack control.
Cemstone offers unmatched experience, expertise and technologies to provide you with the right mix for your needs.
Micro-fiber reinforcement reduces plastic shrinkage crack formation, reduces plastic settlement cracking and improves the cohesion of the concrete mixture, all of which give you durable, low maintenance concrete.
Like the placement of steel reinforcement, macro synthetic fibers can be placed in concrete to transfer post-crack stress, reduce crack widths, increase impact/abrasion resistance and generally improve the long-term performance of the slabs and walls. Macro synthetic fibers eliminates the need for welded-wire mesh (WWM) and small diameter reinforcing bars used as secondary reinforcement, depending on the application.
Steel fibers can be used to replace secondary reinforcement within slabs and walls. In addition, certain applications allow steel fibers to replace primary reinforcement. For horizontal and vertical applications.
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recognizes the use of macro-synthetic fibers as a suitable replacement for reinforcing bars and welded wire mesh when used to control drying shrinkage cracking and thermal changes (ACI 544.4R).
There are two types of synthetic fibers, “micro” and “macro” fibers.
Micro-synthetic fibers, along with proper curing after finishing, are used to reduce the effects of plastic shrinkage cracking. Plastic shrinkage cracking occurs when the surface of the concrete dries out during finishing operations.
Macro-synthetic fibers can be used as a replacement for rebar and welded wire mesh when used to control cracking caused by drying shrinkage cracking and thermal changes in driveways and interior slabs on ground.
Unlike rebar and welded wire mesh, fibers provide three-dimensional reinforcement so that when a crack forms, ideally in a control joint, there are numerous fibers bridging the crack/joint, thereby minimizing the width and length of the crack. In addition, macro-synthetic fibers increase the toughness of the concrete, which aids in limiting deterioration due to impact, abrasion and fatigue.
The appearance of fibers on the surface is greatly minimized with proper concrete mixture selection and installation practices. For more information, please see Cemstone’s Fiber Finishing Guide.
