ACI 544.

3R-08
Guide for Specifying, Proportioning, and
Production of Fibre-Reinforced COncrete

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Contents

• Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope

• Chapter 2: Notations and Definitions
• Chapter 3: Materials
• Chapter 4: Mixture Proportioning
• Chapter 5: Formwork and Conventional Reinforcement
• Chapter 6: Batching, Mixing, Delivery and Sampling
• Chapter 7: Placing and Finishing
• Chapter 8: Curing and Protection
• Chapter 9: References
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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope

FRC =
Hydraulic Cements
+ Water
+ Fine aggregate
+ Coarse aggregate
+ Discontinuous fibres

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope

Fibres

Steel Glass Synthetic Natural

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope
Fibres

Steel Glass Synthetic Natural

Dia = 0.5 - 1 mm
SG = 7.85
Use = 0.2 - 1% by volume of concrete
(15 – 78 kg/m3 of concrete)

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope

1 % Steel Fibres mean _________ kg/m3 of concrete?

For every 1 m3 of concrete Add 0.01 m3 of steel fibres

= 7850 kg/m3 x 0.01 m3

= 78.5 kg

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope
Fibres

Steel AR Glass Synthetic Natural

Dispersible Fibres
Integral Strands
(Microfibres) (Macrofibres)
0.01 – 0.03 % 0.09 – 0.17 %

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope
Fibres

Steel Glass Synthetic Natural

Microsynthetic Macrosynthetic
Dia < 0.3 mm Dia > 0.3 mm
0.05 – 0.2 % 0.2% - 1%

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope
Fibres

Steel Glass Synthetic Natural

Sugarcane Wheat-
Coconut
Bagasse straw

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope

Scope:
• Steel
• Glass
• Synthetic

Note: Natural Fibres are not covered in this report

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope

Specifying FRC:
• Conventional concrete: specified by fc’
• FRC: Generally
• strength (compressive or flexural)
• Fibre Type (material)
• Content (Dosage or percent by volume)

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope

Specifying FRC:
• For performance specification, specify
• Strength (Compressive or flexural)
• Flexural performance parameters

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Scope

Specifying FRC:
For slabs-on-ground, flexural strength (MOR) is specified
(3.4 – 5.5 Mpa)

For structural Applications, compressive strength is specified

(27 – 41 MPa)

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Chapter 2: Notation and Definitions

Notations: Not used

Definitions:
• Aspect Ratio: length/dia of fibre
• Equivalent Dia: Dia of a circle having an area equal to the
average cross-sectional area of a fibre

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Chapter 3: Materials

Steel Fibres:
• Types of Steel Fibres (ASTM A820)
• Strength: up to 2000 Mpa
Synthetic Fibres:
• Types (ASTM C1116)
AR Glass Fibres
• Length = 13 – 38 mm
• Minimum strength: 1 GPa
Can go up to 1.7 Gpa
Hybrid Fibres: Individual fibres to be specified (Ratio of blends to be specified)

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Chapter 4: Mixture Proportioning

Slump:
Minimum: 1inch
Maximum: 7 inch

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Chapter 4: Mixture Proportioning

Proportioning Methods:
For low to moderate dosages, no changes are necessary to the
conventional concrete mixture proportions
Usually, less than 0.25%, No changes are required.
Steel FRC:
Less than 0.33%, no changes required
Admixtures are often required to maintain workability.

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Chapter 4: Mixture Proportioning
Fiber content beyond 0.33%,
Increase the fine/coarse aggregate ratio

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Chapter 4: Mixture Proportioning

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Chapter 4: Maximum Size of Coarse Aggregate

• The larger size increases tendency for steel fibers to ball.

• Smaller maximum size of aggregate is preferred.

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Chapter 4: GFRC proportioning

• Up to 0.88 kg/m3, no adjustments required.

• Beyond 0.88 kg/m3, adjustments are required to maintain
workability and good compaction
• Higher cement content
• Smaller maximum size of aggregate
• Admixtures and SCMs

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Chapter 4: Microsynthetic FRC

• Up to 1.8 kg/m3, no adjustments

• Beyond;
• Adjustments are required (see ACI 544.1R)

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Chapter 4: Macrosynthetic FRC

• Similar to Steel FRC

• Up to 0.5%, no adjustments
• Beyond; increase fine/coarse aggregate ratio and admixtures

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Chapter 4: Hybrid FRC

• No specific recommendations

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Chapter 5: Fibers in RCC

• Maximum length of fiber = 0.5 Clear spacing b/w bars

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Chapter:6 Mixing

• As per ASTM C1116 and ACI 304R

• Special guidelines in the slides to follow.

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Chapter:6 Mixing ; Method-1 Adding fibers last
to transit mixer
• Prepare wet mixture without fibers in usual way
• Check slump; slump before fibers addition should be 1-3 inch
greater than the final slump desired.
• Add ball-free individual fibers as rain of fibers. No clumps!
• The mixer drum should rotate fast enough to carry the fibers
away as they enter the mixer.
• After fiber addition, give at least 40 revolutions.

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Chapter:6 Mixing ; Method-2 Adding Fibers to
Aggregate
• In a batch plant set up to charge a central mixer or transit
mixers, the fibers should be added to the aggregates on a
conveyor belt during aggregate addition and mixed in the
normal manner.

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Chapter:6 Causes of Fiber Balling

• Balling before getting into mixer.

• This is the biggest cause. Fibers added ball-free usually remain so after
mixing.
• High dosage of fibers
• Above 2% or even above 1% if the aspect ratio is high
• Adding fibers first to the mixer
• Fibers have nothing to keep them apart
• Over-mixing
• Too much coarse aggregate

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Chapter:7 Placement

• Same methods as for conventional concrete.

• FRC is more workable than it seems to be. So don’t add water
based on your experience with conventional concrete.

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Chapter:8 Curing

• Same techniques as for conventional concrete

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