Advanced Materials (CAE309b) 2019

Assignment (1) (Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites)

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Question (1)
a) State the types and the properties of short fibers.
b) Fibers can be classified into two types (heavy fibers and light fibers). Discuss this
statement showing the difference between the two types based on properties and
uses.
c) Explain the benefits of use of short fiber in cement composites.
d) Differentiate between the fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) and the short fibers
according to applications and physical configuration.

Question (2)

a) State the applications of fiber reinforced concrete showing the advantage of the use
of fibers in these applications.
b) State the advantages and disadvantages of natural and polymeric.
c) Are the following statements true or false and state the reason:
1. The fibers with high moduls of elasticity are used successfully better than those
with low moduls of elasticity to control the crack in plastic state of concrete.
2. Fibers can be used to replace the secondary reinforcement of concrete elements.
3. Fibers affect the long-term durability of concrete.
4. The choosing of any type of fibers depends on the type of applications.
5. In the hot climate, heavy fiber should be added to concrete.
6. Continuous fibers and short fibers may be used in all structural applications.
7. The primary reason for using strong fibers in cement composites is to improve
the ductility.
8. Natural fiber may be successfully used in cement composite.
9. The low amount of energy required to extract natural fibers helps to use these
fibers in cement composites without any problems.
10. All polymeric fibers have a very high tensile strength and have low modulus of
elasticity
11. Large-scale use of polymeric and steel fibers in concrete didn’t happen until the
later 1970
12. Carbon fibers have been used for special applications that required high tensile
and flexural strength
13. Metallic fibers are manufactured in the same physical configuration.
14. The use of fibers does not affect the plastic settlement cracking and plastic
shrinkage crack formation of concrete.
15. Fibers can be used successfully in architectural concrete finishes.
16. Fibers can be used to replace combination moment and temperature steel.
17. The development of high-range water-reducing admixtures aided the use of high
volume fraction of fiber in concrete with slight problems.
18. One of the primary reasons for adding fibers to concrete is to improve the
energy-absorbing capacity of the matrix.