Anfra Oy has developed to the BY66 guide a calculation basis for fibre-reinforced concrete structures that has been checked, tested and proven to work. The external audit has been carried out by Ramboll Finland Oy. Our calculation base ensures that our fibre concrete solutions are reliable, efficient and designed to meet the needs of the most demanding structures.
Building with fibre-reinforced concrete is a less time-consuming and more ecological alternative to traditional reinforced concrete. Its strengths include time savings, cost-effectiveness and use in a variety of slab structures. Although there are still limitations to its use, such as the lack of standardisation of load-bearing structures, its potential is enormous. There are good reasons to expect fibre-reinforced concrete to be a cornerstone of sustainable construction in the future.
Fibre-reinforced concrete has become one of the most exciting innovations in sustainable construction. It offers many advantages over traditional reinforced concrete, especially in terms of time savings, cost-effectiveness and ecology. In this article, we dive deeper into the properties of fibre concrete and its potential in Finnish construction.
What is fibre concrete?
Fibre-reinforced concrete is concrete to which reinforcing fibres, such as steel or plastic fibres, have been added to replace some or all of the traditional reinforcement. The fibres improve the tensile strength of the concrete and prevent the propagation of cracks, making it a particularly durable material for floor structures and other applications.
The benefits of fibre concrete: time saving and cost efficiency
Based on an interview with the site manager, floors built with fibre-reinforced concrete can save a considerable amount of time. By eliminating the traditional reinforcement work, the total construction time can be up to a third compared to reinforced concrete floors. There are several advantages to faster construction:
- Shorter construction schedules: A faster construction process allows for a quicker completion of the project, which has a positive impact on the overall schedule.
- Less travel costs: Shorter site time means fewer overnight stays, per diems and travel allowances.
- Cost of materials: The price per kilo of fibre concrete is slightly higher than that of conventional concrete, but the installation work and material storage requirements are significantly lower.
Where does fibre concrete work best?
"Fibre concrete is particularly suitable for tile structures, such as:
- Lighter surface floors - for example, floors in residential buildings.
- Heavier industrial floors - for use in areas with high loads.
- Slabs - The most common load-bearing structure for fibre concrete in Finland.
Although fibre-reinforced concrete has many advantages, its use is limited by the lack of a standard approved by the building authorities for load-bearing structures such as vaults, beams and columns." says Matti Simonen, Project Manager at Anfra.
How does the use of fibre concrete affect sizing?
The design of fibre-reinforced concrete differs from traditional reinforced concrete, as the tensile stresses are absorbed by the fibre instead of the brush steel. Therefore, the design takes into account the residual tensile strength of the structure, which indicates the tensile strength of fibre concrete. The residual tensile strength is determined by the beam test according to SFS-EN 14651 and cannot therefore be estimated by calculation.
The eco-friendliness of fibre concrete is a major competitive advantage. As the fibres partially replace traditional reinforcement, material consumption is significantly reduced. According to Ilmari Oikarainen, Anfra's site manager, the amount of fibre used in the reference projects has been about 1/3 to 1/4 of the amount of reinforcement. This significantly reduces the carbon footprint of construction, promoting sustainable building.
Fibre concrete in the future
Although fibre concrete is already a popular choice, especially for flooring, its potential can be exploited even more in the future. As innovation and standardisation progresses, applications may extend to load-bearing structures such as plinths and walls. For the time being, fibre concrete offers an excellent alternative for fast, cost-effective and sustainable construction, especially in slab structures.
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