The Engineering Department / CBE

Level 5
P2.1:

I will compare the effect of different types of fibers when it added to concrete:

Polymers fibers Natural fibers Steel fibers

When we add polymers Natural fiber is very Steel fiber is the

fibers to the concert it weak especially in strongest type of fiber,
will give it more resisting loads so it so when we add it to
Strength strength, Because will not make a the concrete it will
originally polymers are difference in the increase its strength
a strong materials that strength of concrete especially the tensile
can withstand loads. mixture. strength.

Polymer fibers have

medium strength and Steel fiber will
hardness in compare Natural fiber is a soft increase concrete
with other fibers, in fibers, so it will not hardness, make it
that when it added to give the concrete stronger and bear
Hardness concrete they add a mixture the hardness, more loads, and
limited or medium on the contrary, it adding steel fiber to
hardness because may make the concrete is like a
polymers can be concrete weaker. reinforcing of
broken if exposed to concrete.
large loads.

Student Name: Amira Bashar Al.Nas Page | 12

Submission Date: 20 \ 5 \ 2018
 The Engineering Department / CBE
Level 5
Polymer fibers are Natural fibers are
Steel fibers increase
made of artificial originally consist of
the durability of
material. Which are not organic fibers, so by
concrete but not very
degraded by time time it can be
Durabilit much because of the
because it doesn't degraded so, when
y possibility of steel
affected by moisture. we add it to the
rust or degradation in
so when it added to the concrete mix it will
case of exposure to
concrete mixture it will not give the
moisture.
add a great durability durability

Student Name: Amira Bashar Al.Nas Page | 13

Submission Date: 20 \ 5 \ 2018
 The Engineering Department / CBE
Level 5
P2.2:

I will discuss the manufacturing process of following fibers:

Fibers:

Fiber is a type of material having continuous filaments and somewhat similar to

lengths of thread. They can either be spun or twisted into yarns or can also be directly
compressed into fabric.

-Natural Fiber:

These fibers can be sourced from plants, animals and minerals.

Generally natural fiber is a soft fibers added to the concrete to give it elasticity and decrease the
usage of chemicals and artificial materials in concrete mixture.

Types of natural fibers:

Vegetable fiber: Plant fibers are employed in the manufacture of paper and textile (cloth), and
dietary fiber is an important component of human nutrition. An example of vegetable fiber Cotton
fiber.

Mineral fiber: include the asbestos group. Asbestos is the only naturally occurring long mineral
fiber and Asbestos has been used in making firefighting and fire resistant fabrics. It is used to
manufacture commercial furnishings including theater curtains, draperies.

Animal fiber: consist largely of particular proteins, and it has many source like silkworm silk,
spider silk, fur such as sheepskin, rabbit, fox. It usually used in Clothing Carpets, Felt and Rugs.
An example of animal fiber Wool fiber.

Student Name: Amira Bashar Al.Nas Page | 14

Submission Date: 20 \ 5 \ 2018
 The Engineering Department / CBE
Level 5

-Polymers fiber:

Polymers: is a useful chemical made of many

repeating units. A polymer can be a three dimensional
network or two-dimensional network or a one-
dimensional network.

Polymer fibers: are a man-made fibers, which are

based on synthetic chemicals (often from petrochemical sources) rather than arising from natural
materials by physical process.

Many common classes of polymers are composed of hydrocarbons, compounds of carbon and
hydrogen. These polymers are specifically made of carbon atoms bonded together, one to the next,
into long chains that are called the backbone of the polymer.

Most polymers have the following characteristic:

Polymers can be very resistant to chemicals, and can be both thermal and electrical insulators

Generally, polymers are very light in weight with significant degrees of strength, and can be
processed in various ways.

Polymers are materials with a seemingly limitless range of characteristics and colors, and are
usually made of petroleum, but not always, also it can be used to make items that have no
alternatives from other materials.

Polymer fiber usage:

Polymer fiber can be recycled when mixed with concrete. It helps to improve the properties and
durability of the concrete, as well as many other uses.

Student Name: Amira Bashar Al.Nas Page | 15

Submission Date: 20 \ 5 \ 2018
 The Engineering Department / CBE
Level 5
-Steel fiber:

Steel fibers are concrete reinforcing material which in

combination with concrete provides certain advantages in
comparison with traditional reinforcement.

Steel fibers are made from different wire materials,

designed to provide concrete with temperature and shrinkage crack control, enhanced flexural
reinforcement, improved shear strength and increase the crack resistance of concrete.

The advantages of steel fiber is:

Good impact strength, good ductility, high load bearing capacity after being cracked, tensile
bending and shear strength, high resistance.

Why we use steel fiber:

Is generally used to inhibit cracking, improve resistance to impact, to resist dynamic loading and
material degradation. Steel fiber can be used without any other additional reinforcement in almost
all application where flexural stresses are not overwhelming like beams for example.

Application of steel fiber:

Industrial floor, foundation slab, shot Crete, hydro structure, tunneling.

Student Name: Amira Bashar Al.Nas Page | 16

Submission Date: 20 \ 5 \ 2018