Steel Fiber Applications

Fibers are used in many types of Slab-on-Grade for Industrial floors to improve the quality and durability of the hardened Slab-on-Grade by controlled crack distribution and shrinkage reduction.

Steel-fiber reinforcement significantly improves slab behaviour in terms of strength, ductility and toughness. Fibers are efficient at both serviceability limit state, by reducing cracking phenomena due to loads or shrinkage effects, and at the ultimate limit state, by increasing the ultimate load. 

 Hollow core slabs are prestressed concrete elements that have a constant cross-section. A hollow core slab, also known as a voided slab, hollow core plank or simply a concrete plank is a precast slab of prestressed concrete typically used in the construction of floors in multi-story  buildings. Hollow core slabs derive their name from the voids or cores which run through the units. The cores can function as service ducts and significantly reduce the self-weight of the slabs, maximizing structural efficiency.

Steel fibers can be used for the reinforcement of the concrete in composite slabs constructed with light gauge profiled steel decking. The use of fibre-reinforced concrete offers advantages in terms of speed of construction, site safety and a more reliable distribution of reinforcement over the full thickness of the concrete layer.

The use of fibers in precast concrete results in lighter and more economic units because the possible reduction in steel rein­forcement saves weight and reduces production time. The ho­mogeneous distribution of the fibers throughout the concrete cross-section also gives high impact resistance right to the edges and corners.

Steel fibers have been used for a long time in the construction of roads particularly where heavy wear and tear is expected.