A REVIEW OF FIBER REINFORCEMENT OF PORTLAND CEMENT PASTE, MORTAR, AND CONCRETE

FIBERS OF PRINCIPAL CURRENT INTEREST FOR USE AS REINFORCEMENT IN PORTLAND CEMENT PRODUCTS INCLUDE ASBESTOS, GLASS, PLASTICS AND STEEL. CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH IS NOW DIRECTED TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING METHODS THAT WOULD ALLOW THE SUBSTITUTION OF GLASS FIBERS FOR ASBESTOS FIBERS IN PORTLAND CEMENT PASTE AND MORTAR. PLASTIC FIBERS MAY SERVE A USEFUL PURPOSE AS ENERGY ABSORBERS IN CONCRETE THAT IS SUBJECT TO EXPLOSIVE LOADING. BECAUSE OF COST, THE USE OF STEEL FIBERS IN PORTLAND CEMENT PRODUCTS WILL PROBABLY BE LIMITED TO SPECIAL APPLICATIONS WHERE CONVENTIONAL REINFORCEMENT IS NOT SATISFACTORY. /AUTHOR/