FIBER-REINFORCED CONCRETE DEVELOPMENTS: A COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE REVIEW OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, CRACK RESISTANCE, DURABILITY ENHANCEMENT, AND STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has emerged as a transformative material in modern civil engineering, addressing the inherent brittleness and limited tensile capacity of conventional concrete. This comprehensive literature review examines recent developments in FRC across four principal domains: mechanical properties enhancement, crack resistance mechanisms, durability improvement, and structural applications. A systematic analysis of 70+ academic sources reveals that fiber reinforcement—utilizing steel, basalt, glass, polypropylene, and natural fibers—significantly enhances tensile strength (up to 45% improvement with steel fibers at optimal volume fractions), crack resistance, and long-term durability. The review identifies fiber type, volume fraction, aspect ratio, and matrix quality as critical parameters influencing performance. Hybrid fiber systems demonstrate superior crack control and post-cracking behavior compared to single-fiber approaches. Ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) represents an emerging frontier, achieving compressive strengths exceeding 140 MPa with exceptional ductility. Current applications extend from transportation infrastructure (pavements, bridge decks, tunnels) to building structures (columns, slabs, seismic-resistant systems) and specialized systems (reactive powder concrete, geopolymer composites). However, standardization challenges, cost optimization, and sustainability considerations remain critical research frontiers. This review synthesizes methodological approaches, comparative performance data, and identifies significant gaps in understanding long-term durability, fiber-matrix interactions at elevated temperatures, and large-scale implementation frameworks.