Steel-fibre-concrete, that is, concrete reinforced with steel fibres, being a variety of steel-reinforced concrete has found wide application in the world production of building structures. Forcible confirmation of steel-fibre-reinforcement effectiveness is the fact that more than 20 large corporations and firms all over the world are engaged in manufacturing of steel fibre.

Steel- fibre concrete application fields:

Monolithic structures:

• Industrial floors;
• Explosion-and-break-proof constructions;
• Irrigation canals;
• Water baffle dams;
• Tunnel lining;
• Tridimensional covers and constructions;
• Defense constructions;
• Elements for reparation of monolithic structures of flooring, roads etc.

Built-up members and structures:

• Railway sleepers;
• Pipe lines;
• Girders;
• Steps;
• Wall panels;
• Explosion-and-break-proof constructions;
• Airfield and road pavement slabs;
• Eave members of bridges;
• Piles;
• Elements of tridimensional covers and constructions

Steel fibre characteristics:

Steel-fibre-concrete is produced from fine or heavy weight concrete where steel fibres are used as reinforcement and uniformly fill the bulk of concrete. Compatibility of concrete and steel fibres is provided by means of coupling over their surfaces and ankers on fibres’ ends.

Mill-cut steel fibre used for concrete reinforcement is manufactured in accordance with necessary production and quality standards.

Steel-fibre concrete structures according to their reinforcement can be divided as follows:

• Steel- fibre reinforced structures – reinforcement with steel fibres uniformly distributed throughout the bulk of concrete;
• Structures with combined reinforcement – steel-fibre reinforcement is combined with reinforcing rods or wire (just like in average reinforced concrete).

Steel-fibre concrete is recommended for manufacturing of structures where its technical advantages in comparison with traditional steel-reinforced concrete can most effectively be used for:

• total weight reduction;
• increased crack resistance;
• impact resistance;
• fracture toughness;
• wear and frost resistance;
• water proofing and cavitation resistance.

The content of fibre in steel-fibre concrete (consumption for 1 m³ of steel-fibre concrete mix) is defined on basis of requirements to its (steel-fibre concrete) mechanical-and-physical properties established in accordance with application conditions.

Depending on the field of steel-fibre concrete application the content of fibre can be recommended by the following (kg/m²):

Steel-fibre-concrete production technology does not differ from that of conventional steel reinforced concrete. Delivery of fibre in 20-kg boxes significantly simplifies dosing procedure. The use of mill-cut steel fibre in comparison with other kinds of steel fibre (wire or pressed sheet fibre) is more preferable, since it is homogenously distributed in the bulk of concrete without formation of «balls» – «agglomerates», well-stored and perfectly bonded to concrete. Considering low crack formation capacity steel fibres, especially those lying at depth more than 2-3 mm, are little subject to corrosive environmental influence.

Most effectively all technical mechanical characteristics can be realized in industrial flooring. Its high wear and crack resistance, higher mechanical characteristics, that is higher durability presents the use of steel-fibre concrete more preferable in comparison with average steel concrete.

Reduction of slab thickness, simplicity of use, reduction of labour cost, reduction of construction period, full or partial rejection of conventional bar-reinforcement, easy hand or mechanical laying reduces the prime cost up to 24%.