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Fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete (FR-SCC) combines the benefits of highly flowable concrete in the fresh state with enhanced performance in the hardened state in terms of crack control and fracture toughness provided by the dispersed fibre reinforcement. A “holistic” approach can be conceived to the design of structure made with highly flowable/selfconsolidating FRC, which encompasses the influence of fresh-state performance and casting process on fibre dispersion and orientation, and the related outcomes in terms of hardened state properties. In this framework, this paper, after a review of the current state of the art on the aforementioned topics based on the research performed by the author in the last decade, the research needs will be discussed which have to be urgently tackled in order to address the use of this kind of advanced cement based materials for high-end structural applications.

Research and applications of fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) started in China during the early 1970’s, and have grown substantially over the last few decades. The first design guideline for fibre-reinforced concrete structures was developed in 1992 and subsequently updated in 2004. The design guideline focuses on steel fibre concrete, which is most commonly used in practical applications, but also has provisions for the use of synthetic fibres. In this paper, a general overview of the guideline will be provided. The design concepts for both serviceability and ultimate states are presented first. Various applications covered in the guideline, including fibre-reinforced structural or semi-structural components, pavements, bridges, hydraulic structures, shotcrete (for tunnel and repair) as well as waterproofing will then be described. By providing a concise summary of the guideline, we hope to convey an idea about the current state of fibre-reinforced concrete design in China.

The development of concrete and cement composites containing fibre reinforcement to improve tensile load-deformation behaviour has resulted in three distinct classes of materials. These are conventional fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) with tension softening response, ultrahigh strength fibre-reinforced concrete (UFC) with increased compressive/tensile strength and high performance fibre-reinforced cement composites (HPFRCC) with strain hardening and multiple cracking characteristics. This paper introduces and compares Japan’s recommendations on the design, production and application of these fibre-reinforced concrete types with the aim of outlining distinctive and common characteristics of the different classes of cement composite materials. Examples of structural applications for HPFRCC and UFC are also described.

After a brief reminder of the main characteristics of UHPFRC and of the history of their development, this paper presents the 2013 AFGC recommendations on UHPFRC, with emphasis on developments based on practical experience and on research carried out during the last decade. The paper then presents the progress of French standardization on UHPFRC and a summary of the similarities and main differences between normal fibre-reinforced concrete and UHPFRC. It presents specific topics which have to be examined in order to formulate intermediate fibre-resistant concrete (between HPFRC and UHPFRC) and/or to formulate UHPFRC with a lower fibre content combined with traditional reinforcement. The paper ends with a summary of the technological breakthroughs brought about by UHPFRC with respect to both design methods and implementation processes.

After several decades of research work and some years of pioneer applications, fibrereinforced concrete (FRC) is nowadays a material ready for the world community, also considering that design rules are already available in several countries and the fib Model Code 2010 includes specific sections for design of FRC elements. FRC can be a suitable solution, especially for statically indeterminate structures, where stress redistribution occurs. In addition to the structural bearing capacity, FRC is particularly useful for better controlling crack opening in service conditions, which has a particular influence on structural durability, especially in aggressive environments. Furthermore, structural robustness is nowadays a major concern among structural engineers. Also in this perspective, FRC could improve structural behaviour since it provides structural resistance both in compression and in tension in all the regions of the structural element. In the present paper, the design procedure is applied to some structural elements where FRC may represent a suitable material for structural behaviour. Beside structural strength, crack opening in service conditions is determined and comparison in terms of total amount of reinforcement (fibres + rebars) is presented.