Concrete fibre
Concrete is used extensively in civil and structural engineering with its high compressive strength, abundant raw materials and low cost. However, 'common' concrete is prone to cracking and shrinkage, low toughness, low tensile, low flexural strength, low shock resistance and high brittleness. To overcome these problems, additional materials can be added to the mix to improve the performance of concrete.
Concrete fibre is as composite material consisting of a mixture of cement, concrete or mortar and discrete, discontinuous, evenly dispersed suitable fibres.
Fibres used to reinforce concrete include synthetic; fibres, steel fibres, basalt fibres and glass fibres among others. Steel fibres dominated, with more than 45% of the total market in 2014. Synthetic fibre is another key product, predicted to show robust growth during forecast period. The increasing use of basalt fiber as a strengthening material for concrete reinforcement is driving market growth, however, high operating costs and capital-intensive R&D may pose a challenge to the market in the near future.
The concrete fibres market is driven by growing urbanisation and improving construction industry standards worldwide. Concrete fibre finds wide spread applications in the road industry, construction, industrial uses, mining and so on. Construction was the major user in 2014. Growth in construction industry worldwide is expected to drive the demand for concrete fibres in the years to come.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- 3D concrete printer.
- Admixture, additive or agent.
- Admixtures in concrete.
- Alkali-activated binder.
- Alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR).
- Alkali-silica reaction (ASR).
- Architectural concrete.
- Carbon fibre.
- Cast-in-place concrete.
- Cellular concrete.
- Concrete in aggressive ground (SD 1).
- Concrete-steel composite structures.
- Concreting plant.
- Earthquake resistant building materials.
- Glass reinforced concrete.
- Hempcrete.
- Reinforced concrete.
- The properties of concrete.
- Types of concrete.
Featured articles and news
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2025/26
Construction apprentice from Lincoln Mia Owen wins this years title.
Insulation solutions with less waste for a circular economy
Rob Firman, Technical and Specification Manager, Polyfoam XPS explains.
Recycled waste plastic in construction
Hierarchy, prevention to disposal, plastic types and approaches.
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard V1 published
Free-to-access technical standard to enable robust proof of a decarbonising built environment.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Why talking about prostate cancer matters in construction.
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch up for free, subscribe and share with your network.
The Association of Consultant Architects recap
A reintroduction and recap of ACA President; Patrick Inglis' Autumn update.
The Home Energy Model and its wrappers
From SAP to HEM, EPC for MEES and FHS assessment wrappers.
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.