Sustainable Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Composites

Sustainable fiber-reinforced concrete composites integrate discrete fibres—derived from recycled polymers, agricultural by-products or natural sources—into cementitious matrices to enhance mechanical performance while reducing environmental impact. By substituting conventional reinforcement or reducing cement content through the incorporation of pozzolanic materials such as palm oil fuel ash or microsilica, these composites achieve improved tensile and flexural strength, crack resistance, ductility and long-term durability in aggressive environments. The fibre-matrix interaction, commonly described as a bridging mechanism, controls crack propagation and mitigates shrinkage, leading to enhanced service life and reduced maintenance costs. Recent advances encompass the use of recycled polypropylene from carpets and food trays, sheep wool residues, steel wool fibres and other waste textiles, all aligned with circular economy principles. Processing techniques range from conventional mixing to prepacked aggregate methods, which allow precise placement of aggregates and fibres prior to grout injection, resulting in uniform fibre distribution and optimised microstructure. Such materials find applications in structural repairs, precast elements, pavements and specialised infrastructure where sustainability and performance are equally critical.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Sustainable Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Composites publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sustainable fiber-reinforced concrete composites across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Fiber-reinforced concrete: A concrete composite containing short, discrete fibres that bridge cracks and improve tensile and flexural performance.

Pozzolanic activity: Chemical reaction of silica-rich materials with calcium hydroxide to form additional cementitious compounds, enhancing strength and durability.

Autogenous shrinkage: Volume reduction in concrete due to internal hydration reactions, which can promote cracking if uncontrolled.

Sorptivity: Measure of a material’s capacity to absorb and transmit water by capillarity, affecting durability and permeability.

Ductility: Ability of a material to undergo plastic deformation prior to failure, important for energy absorption and toughness.

References

1. Designing prepacked aggregate concrete for improved mechanical properties and its field application in constructing steel tube concrete. Scientific Reports (2024).
2. An Integrated Approach to Using Sheep Wool as a Fibrous Material for Enhancing Strength and Transport Properties of Concrete Composites. Materials (2022).
3. Performance Evaluation of Sustainable Concrete Comprising Waste Polypropylene Food Tray Fibers and Palm Oil Fuel Ash Exposed to Sulfate and Acid Attacks. Crystals (2021).
4. Optimizing of the Cementitious Composite Matrix by Addition of Steel Wool Fibers (Chopped) Based on Physical and Mechanical Analysis. Materials (2021).
5. Effects of Reinforcing Fiber and Microsilica on the Mechanical and Chloride Ion Penetration Properties of Latex‐Modified Fiber‐Reinforced Rapid‐Set Cement Concrete for Pavement Repair. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering (2018).
6. A Review on the Effects of Waste Textile Polymer Fiber on Concrete Strength: Exploring the Key Parameters. Buildings (2024).