Multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract

The multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete is concrete in which fibers have been embedded to prevent the concrete from being fractured due to cracks developing therein. Each fiber has multiple legs, defining two and three dimensional structures. At least one fiber is embedded in a volume of concrete, where the at least one fiber has at least first and second legs respectively extending along first and second directions. The first and second directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45° and 135°, with each of the first and second legs having a free end and a fixed end. Each free end has a substantially Z-shaped contour. The fixed ends of the first and second legs may be joined together to define a two-dimensional fiber structure. The at least one fiber may be partially coated with a polymeric material, such as polypropylene.

Description

BACKGROUND1. Field[0001]The disclosure of the present patent application relates to reinforced concrete, and particularly to concrete reinforced with multi-leg fibers forming two and three dimensional shapes for enhancing the tensile strength of the concrete.2. Description of the Related Art[0002]Concrete, which is widely used in the fields of civil-engineering and architecture, is relatively brittle on its own, allowing it to be easily fractured by tensile load or dynamic load. Thus, plain concrete is susceptible to the formation and growth of cracks therein. In order to resolve these drawbacks of concrete (i.e., in order to improve its tensile strength), fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) has been developed. In conventional FRC, a plurality of linear strands of fiber are disbursed in the concrete, typically using a somewhat random distribution such that the strands cover, for all intents and purposes, every orientation within the concrete, ideally with even distribution.[0003]Althoug...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The multi-leg fiber design significantly enhances the tensile strength and crack resistance of concrete, reducing material wastage by 50% to 83.3% compared to conventional straight fibers, and provides delayed resistance to crack opening, even under fire conditions by maintaining structural integrity.

Problems solved by technology

Concrete, which is widely used in the fields of civil-engineering and architecture, is relatively brittle on its own, allowing it to be easily fractured by tensile load or dynamic load.

Thus, plain concrete is susceptible to the formation and growth of cracks therein.

Although easy to manufacture, conventional FRC is not ideal.

Linear fiber strands, for example, do not provide crack resistance when cracks arise near or pass through the fiber ends.

In addition, flexible fibers frequently clump together during mixing.

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