HIGH GRADEThe economical alternative to steel fibers and steel mesh.

Compressive strength 4

Flexural strength 5

Early shrinkage crack characteristics 6

Shrinkage characteristics 7

Water penetration capacity 8

Extraction characteristics 9

Fracture toughness and fracture energy 10

Sulphate resistance 11

Early strength 11

Structural calculation 12

Application 13

Project examples 14

Literature and sources 15

Advantages

The raw materialWe use pure polyolefine for our Fibrofor High Grade. This ensures absolute alkali resistance, not only on the surface. The fiber material is chemically neutral (inert) and rot-proof, and its water absorption rate is virtually 0%.

The fibrillated, bundled fibers and theiroptimal distributionDuring the sophisticated production process, special attention is paid to precise fibrillation of the fibers. The fibers are bundled and cut after the actual production process. Fibrillation and bundling allow optimal distribution throughout the concrete matrix.

The rough surfaceThe surface finish is deliberately selected to obtain a rough surface. This, among other things, also influences…

…the extraction characteristicsWe give high priority to the anchoring of our Fibrofor High Grade in the concrete. The rough-ness and fibrillation of the fibers greatly improve the extraction characteristics.

…the addition rate1 kg of Fibrofor High Grade per cubic meter will suffice to obtain optimal concrete reinforcement. The feed rate can be individually matched to spe-cial applications.

The fibrillation

The fibrillated, bundled fibers

The roughness of the surface

The fibrils

Quality advance

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The compressive strength is slightly in-fluenced by the addition of Fibrofor High Grade and produces a marginal change compared with base concrete. It lies within the range of other fiber concrete of a conventional type.

Average compressive strength after 28 days in N/mm2

Type of test specimen Concrete qualityCube 150x150x150 mm

Compressive strength (N/mm2) 32 34 36

Plain concrete (without fibers)

With multifilament fibers

With Fibrofor High Grade

Type of test specimen Concrete qualityBar 150x150x550 mm*

Flexural strength (N/mm2)

Designation according to EN 206 C25/30 XC1/Dmax 32/CI 0.20/F3

Designation according to EN 206 C25/30 XC1/Dmax 32/CI 0.20/F3

Plain concrete (without fibers)

With multifilament fibers

With Fibrofor High Grade

3 4 5

Compressive strength

* Third-point testing

The addition of Fibrofor High Grade in-creases the flexural strength appreciably (up to 28%). This parameter is used for structural calculations and is country-specific applied.

Average flexural strength after 28 days in N/mm2

Flexural strength

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The significant parameter is determined in a test series with 6 bending beams. The test specimens has a measurement of 150 x 150 x 550 mm (according to EN 12390-5) and will be charged in the third-point.

Type of test specimen Concrete qualityCube 150x150x150 mm

Compressive strength (N/mm2) 32 34 36

Plain concrete (without fibers)

With multifilament fibers

With Fibrofor High Grade

Type of test specimen Concrete qualityBar 150x150x550 mm*

Flexural strength (N/mm2)

Designation according to EN 206 C25/30 XC1/Dmax 32/CI 0.20/F3

Designation according to EN 206 C25/30 XC1/Dmax 32/CI 0.20/F3

Plain concrete (without fibers)

With multifilament fibers

With Fibrofor High Grade

3 4 5

Total shrinkage crack lengths

Base concrete (without fibers)

Base concrete (without fibers)

with Fibrofor High Grade

with Fibrofor High Grade

1

2

1

2

Type of test specimenShrinkage ring: ø outside 590mm ø inside 290mm

Concrete gradeHigh-grade concrete C50 / 60

620mm

420mm

24mm

110mm

Testing of the early shrinkage crack cha-racteristics by shrinkage ring is based on the most stringent test criteria. Inves-tigations have shown that fiber concrete using Fibrofor High Grade will reduce shrinkage cracking by 85% compared with conventional concrete types, which

corresponds to quality class FS2. This means that fiber concrete using Fibro-for High Grade has a higher concrete density with minimum micro-cracks and that an earlier utilization of building structures can be expected.

Early shrinkage crack characteristics of fiber concrete class FS2 (testing time 5 hours)

Early shrinkage crack characteristics

Fibrofor High Grade is capable, among other things, of improving the shrinkage characteristics of the fresh concrete du-ring the early setting phase. This is one of the crucial characteristics of Fibrofor High Grade fibers. In this case, the ap-plication of fibrillated Fibrofor High Grade fibers is advisable because its advan-tages allow concrete shrinkage to be mi-nimised.

Investigations have shown that the ad-dition of 1 kg of Fibrofor High Grade per cubic metre of concrete will allow values to be achieved which would otherwise require twice the amount of other fiber types. It must be noted, however, that such an increased fiber addition rate may appreciably reduce the compressive strength.

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Time in days (t)

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Plain concrete Fibrofor High Grade

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Fiber concrete

Fiber concrete with Fibrofor High Grade and plain concrete, fiber addition rate 1kg /m3

Fiber concrete with conventional, fibrillated fibers and plain concrete, fiber addition rate 1.8 kg/m3

Shrinkage characteristics

6 / 7

Plain concrete

Fibrofor High Grade reduces the water penetration depth in the concrete body. The test specimen was based on a con-crete formulation with aggregates 0/16, 350kg/m3 CEM I 32.5 plus 0.9% plasti-ciser. The water-to-cement factor was 0.38. The compressive strength deter-mined was 59.3 N/mm2 for base concrete and 66.2 N/mm2 for fiber concrete using Fibrofor High Grade (test pressure 0.8 MPa).

Type of test specimen Water penetration depthCube 150x150x150 mm

Plain concrete (without fibers) 2.20 cm

with Fibrofor High Grade 1 kg/m3 1.75 cm

The chart shows that the water penetra-tion depth will be reduced by over 25% when Fibrofor High Grade is added.

Water penetration capacity

The reinforcement fibers must be em-bedded and anchored in the concrete matrix so that the positive fiber cha-racteristics will be retained under struc-tural loading. Monofilament fibers with a smooth surface offer this characteristic only to a certain extent. On the other hand, this is one of the very areas where the special design features and the bet-ter technical values of Fibrofor High

Grade have their full effect. Extensive scientific investigations show that Fibro-for High Grade offers optimal extraction strength and extraction characteristics. The figures show the directions of the force and the distribution of the forces under tensile stressing and illustrate the benefits of fibrillated Fibrofor High Grade fibers.

Extraction characteristics

Fibrofor High Grade

Monofilament fiber

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Fracture toughness andfracture energy

Fiber concrete has a very good fracture toughness. Investigations have shown the fracture energy of concrete using Fibro-for High Grade to increase by as much as 240%. As a result, cracking of the concrete – which is a very brittle construction mate-rial – due to soil movements can be mini-mized.

at an age of

Plain concrete (without fibers)

with multifilament fibers

with Fibrofor High Grade

0.56 J

1.26 J

1.89 J

0.90 J

1.81 J

2.80 J

1.04 J

2.11 J

3.58 J

3 days 7 days 28 days

Type of test specimenCube 150x150x150 mm

Fracture energy (up to fracture)of the equivalent flexural tensile strength test

Sulphate resistance /Early strength

Sulphate resistanceWhen used in conjunction with sulphate-containing substances, concrete rein-forced with Fibrofor High Grade offers bet-ter technical parameters than other fiber concrete types. Its advantage over plain concrete is even substantial.

Early strengthJust like conventional fiber concrete, concrete reinforced with Fibrofor High Grade also has an increased early strength. This advantage can be eco-nomically exploited especially in slip-forming applications and in the prefab-rication industry as well as otherwise in concrete construction applications.

Plain concrete (without fibers)

with multifilament fibers

with Fibrofor High Grade

Solution I Solution II

5.84 100 %

6.40 110 %

7.24 124%

* 4.24 73%

6.04 103%

6.45 110%

4.44 76 %

6.47 111%

6.52 112%

Solution III

Type of test specimen40 x 40 x 160 mm

Average flexural tensile strengths N/mm2 measured after the following baths on air-dry specimen

No. of the test specimen

Plain concrete (without fibers)

with multifilament fibers

with Fibrofor High Grade

1 2 3

3.8

4.6

4.7

3.7

4.6

4.9

3.8

4.5

4.6

3.8

4.6

4.6

Type of test specimenCube 150x150x150 mm

24-hour compressivestrength (N/mm2)

Meanvalue

Sulphate resistance

Early strength

* This value (100%) is used as the basis for comparing the other equivalent flexural tensile strength values.

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Structural calculation

Structural calculations according to EC 2 prove that with the use of Fibrofor High Grade various structural elements do not need any more conventional steel or steel mesh reinforcements. It is also possible to significantly reduce the steel reinforcement requirement by combi- ning reinforcement components (Fibro-for High Grade and steel).

Proven reductions of construction steel offer extremely interesting cost savings for our customers.We would be pleased to present you an alternative to conventionally reinforced concrete for your building project. Our civil engineers calculate using a state-of-the-art dimensioning software based on finite element.

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Application

Industrial floorsProductionhalls and warehouses

Shopping malls Agricultural buildings

Transport roadAny kind of outside areas

Traffic areas/roadsCar parks and parking facilities

Project examples

Outside area Industrial floor

Car park Cattle shed

Catch and tilting basin Sales area

Compressive strength, equivalent flexural tensilestrength, fracture toughness and fracture energy,sulphate resistance, early strength, early shrink-age crack characteristicsConstruction industry engineering approval EMI AG,Budapest, Hungary

Equivalent flexural tensile strengthVersuchs- und Forschungsanstalt, MA39,Vienna, Austria

Shrinkage characteristicsZollo Report "Hardened Concrete Drying Shrinkage",Prof. Dr. Zollo, ACI, Detroit, USA

Investigation report MPADortmund, Germany

Fiber concrete guidelinesAustrian Association for Concrete and Civil Engineering, Vienna, Austria

Flexural strength and compressive strengthTest certification by Dr. Hartl GesmbH., stateaccredited test institution, Seyring, Austria

Water penetration depthAkademia Rolnicza, Poznan, Poland

Literature and sources

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Contact us.

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017

Brugg Contec AGGübsenstrasse 80CH-9015 St. GallenT +41 71 466 12 12info@bruggcontec.comwww.bruggcontec.com