fiberglass reinforcement is widely used in construction in the west, while in the domestic industry its use is not widespread. However, in recent years, the popularity of this material is growing, the reason for this is the many operational advantages in comparison with traditional rolled metal.
This article presents fiberglass reinforcement (FRP). We'll consider specifications, advantages and disadvantages, sizes and applications composite reinforcement.
1 Assortment and GOSTs
Non-metallic composite reinforcement was developed back in the USSR in the 60s, however, mass production of the material was never established due to the then high cost of fiberglass. Nevertheless, composite reinforcement was used in the construction of several large facilities, including power lines in Batumi, Moscow and bridges in Khabarovsk.
To date, there is no GOST standard with technical requirements to this material (the project is under development). The main regulation is SNiP №52-01-2003 "Composite reinforcement", according to which fiberglass products can be used in construction as a replacement for rolled metal. Each of the manufacturers has technical specifications for their products, along with which test reports and certificates of approval are supplied.
Composite reinforcement is produced in the range of diameters 4-20 mm. The profile of the rods can be corrugated or smooth. Depending on the material of manufacture, the following types of non-metallic products are distinguished:
- ASP - fiberglass reinforcement, made from fiberglass bonded with a layer of synthetic resin;
- ABP - basalt-plastic products, in which the fiberglass core is replaced by a melt of basalt fibers;
- ASPET - products made of fiberglass and polymer thermoplastic;
- AUP - carbon fiber reinforcement.
ASP and ABP are most common in construction, carbon fiber reinforcement is used less frequently due to the lower mechanical strength of the material.
1.1 Applications
Application of s.p. reinforcement in construction is practiced in the construction of residential, public and industrial buildings, as well as low-rise buildings, where ASP is used for:
- reinforcement of reinforced concrete structures (walls and floor slabs);
- repair of surfaces of objects made of brick and reinforced concrete;
- layered masonry walls using the technology of flexible connections;
- all types (slab, tape, columnar);
- strengthening of walls and aerated concrete blocks and installation of monolithic armored belts.
The use of s.p. fittings and in the field of road and railway road construction where ASP is applied:
- when arranging embankments and road surfaces;
- when strengthening the slopes of roads;
- during the construction of bridges;
- while strengthening coastlines.
Composite polymer rebar for reinforcing concrete structures is completely resistant to corrosion and chemically aggressive substances, which greatly expands its scope.
1.2 Benefits of TSA
Composite reinforcement has the following operational advantages:
Disadvantages of s.p. reinforcement - low modulus of elasticity (4 times less than that of steel), which limits the possibility of its use for vertical reinforcement, the tendency to lose strength when heated above 600 degrees. Please note that the composite reinforcement is not subject to bending in the conditions of the construction site- if it is necessary to use bent elements, they must be ordered separately from the manufacturer.
2 Comparison of ASP and metal analogues
We bring to your attention a comparison of the technical characteristics of composite and steel reinforcement.
| Reinforcement type | metal | Fiberglass (ASP) |
| Production material | Steel grade 25G2S or 35 GS | Fiberglass bonded with synthetic resin |
| Weight | 7.9 kg/m3 | 1.9 kg/m3 |
| 360 | 1200 | |
| Modulus of elasticity (MPa) | 200 000 | 55 000 |
| Relative extension (%) | 24 | 2.3 |
| Stress-Strain Relationship | Curve line with yield pad | Straight line with elastic-linear dependence up to failure |
| Linear expansion (mm/m) | 14-15 | 9-11 |
| Resistant to corrosive environments | Low, prone to rust | high, does not rust |
| Thermal conductivity of materials (W/mK) | 47 | 0.46 |
| Electrical conductivity | Present | Dielectric |
| Diameters | 6-80mm | 4-20mm |
| Measured length | 6-12 m | Custom length according to customer's requirement |
Consider a comparison of interchangeable diameters of composite and metal products using the example of rods:
- A3 6 mm - ASP 4 mm;
- A3 8 mm - ASP 6 mm;
- A3 10 mm - ASP 8 mm;
- A3 12 mm - ASP 8 mm;
- A3 14 mm - ASP 10 mm;
- A3 16 mm - ASP 12 mm.
2.1 Overview of fiberglass reinforcement (video)
3 Technology for the production of composite products
Fiberglass reinforcement is made from roving (fibers of raw materials), a binder material - polymer resin, a hardener and a hardening accelerator. The specific ratio of materials depends on temperature regime and humidity inside the production room.
See also: what is the difference between reinforcement, and what are its parameters?
The production line includes the following equipment:
- Heating hopper - in it the fibers are heated to increase adhesion with the resin.
- Impregnation bath - roving is impregnated with a mixture of resin and hardeners.
- Wrapper - pushes the raw material through the dies, during the passage of which rods of a given diameter are formed.
- Sand spreading equipment, where sand grains are evenly distributed over the surface of the rod, and the excess is removed by air flow.
- Polymerization furnace, where the design strength of the bars takes place.
- The equipment for cooling products is a line 3-5 meters long, located at the outlet of the polymerization furnace.
- Broaching equipment, cutting mechanism and installation for winding coils - finished fiberglass reinforcement is cut into sections of the required length or wound into commercial coils 50-100 m long.
There are many on the market standard solutions, including all necessary equipment. The cost of a new line varies within 3-5 million rubles.
Equipment of average productivity is capable of producing up to 15,000 m of rebar during the working day.
In this article, we will analyze and describe in detail 15 ways how and where fiberglass composite reinforcement is most often used.
1. Foundation plates
The technology of reinforcing foundation slabs in low-rise construction no higher than three floors using fiberglass composite reinforcement occurs by replacing metal reinforcement with fiberglass according to the table of equal strength replacement.
Proper replacement with fiberglass reinforcement is guaranteed to lead to significant savings Money, because fiberglass reinforcement is cheaper than metal. The principle of reinforcing foundation slabs with fiberglass reinforcement does not differ from reinforcement with metal reinforcement, but leads to significant savings in installation time.
Knitting of fiberglass reinforcement is carried out with a knitting wire, cutting of fiberglass reinforcement is carried out.
2. Strip foundations
Reinforcement of the strip foundation with the use of fiberglass reinforcement occurs by replacing the metal reinforcement with fiberglass according to the table of equal strength replacement.
Table of equal replacement of metal reinforcement with composite fiberglass reinforcement
Proper equal-strength replacement of metal reinforcement with fiberglass will allow you to get economic benefit up to 45%(savings in 2 times).
When replacing metal reinforcement with fiberglass, there is no need to increase the number of reinforcement layers and the number of whips in one layer.
If it is necessary to lengthen the whip of fiberglass reinforcement, the connection occurs in an overlap. The length of the overlap is from 20 to 50 cm.
Knitting of fiberglass reinforcement is also carried out with a knitting wire, carried out by a "grinder".
3. Reinforcement of industrial concrete floors
Reinforcement of industrial concrete floors with the use of fiberglass composite reinforcement occurs by replacing metal reinforcement with fiberglass according to the table of equal strength replacement.
Proper replacement with fiberglass reinforcement when reinforcing industrial concrete floors also leads to significant cost savings, because. fiberglass reinforcement is cheaper than metal.
The principle of reinforcement with fiberglass reinforcement does not differ from reinforcement with metal reinforcement, but leads to significant savings in installation time.
When replacing metal reinforcement with fiberglass, there is no need to reduce the reinforcement step.
If it is necessary to lengthen the whip of fiberglass reinforcement, the connection occurs in an overlap. The length of the overlap is from 20 to 50 cm.
Knitting of fiberglass reinforcement is carried out with a knitting wire, carried out by a grinding machine - "grinder".
4. Blind areas around buildings
A blind area is a strip with a width of 0.6 m to 1.2 m, which adjoins the foundation or basement of a building with a slope.
The slope of the blind area must be at least 1% (1 cm per 1 m) and not more than 10% (10 cm per 1 m).
The blind area around the building is recommended to be built using fiberglass reinforcement, since the main task of the blind area is to remove surface rain and melt water from the walls and foundations of the house. The blind area with the use of fiberglass reinforcement will last several times longer, since fiberglass reinforcement has high anti-corrosion properties, which prevents the occurrence of cracks in concrete.
5. Armopoyas (seismic belt) between floors of brick or block buildings
The use of fiberglass composite reinforcement when reinforcing the armored belt (seismic belt) between the floors of brick or block buildings due to high strength characteristics increases the spatial rigidity of the building and protects the foundation and walls from cracks caused by uneven settlement and frost heaving of the soil.
6. Binder for brickwork
To increase strength brickwork and observing the same thickness of the seams, it is necessary to use rods made of fiberglass reinforcement with diameters F4 and F6, instead of a metal mesh.
The thickness of the diameter of the reinforcement depends on the thickness of the seam in the brickwork.
Also, the use of fiberglass rods in brickwork will significantly reduce heat loss, since fiberglass reinforcement does not conduct heat well, several times worse than metal.
7. Binder for masonry walls made of blocks / bricks, for monolithic walls
To increase the strength of masonry walls made of blocks / bricks, for monolithic walls and to control the thickness of the joints, it is recommended to use fiberglass rods with diameters F4, F6 and F8 instead of a metal mesh. The thickness of the diameter of the reinforcement depends on the thickness of the seam during laying.
Replacing the metal masonry mesh with fiberglass rods will reduce the cost of reinforcing material by more than 5 times.
Also, the use of fiberglass rods will significantly reduce heat loss, since fiberglass reinforcement does not conduct heat well, several times worse than metal.
8. Combination with metal in floor slabs
The floor slab is reinforced in two layers. The load on the floor slab goes from the top down and is distributed over the entire coverage area. Accordingly, the main working reinforcement is located in the lower layer and experiences large tensile loads. Upper layer, mainly receives compressive loads.
In this case, fiberglass reinforcement is used in combination with metal. The top layer must be made of metal, the bottom layer must be made of metal.
In the mesh itself, fiberglass composite reinforcement should have a solid appearance without gaps. If the ceiling is reinforced with F10 fiberglass reinforcement, then an overlap of 400 mm must be performed. All reinforcement joints should be staggered.
Flexible connection is used to connect inner wall through the insulation (and the air layer) with the cladding wall into a single unit in the system of three-layer walls.
Composite flexible connections manufactured by OZKM LLC are rods made of fiberglass with a length of 200 to 600 mm with a periodic relief surface or rods with a circular cross section (depending on the design solution). Due to this, OZKM flexible bonds have high adhesion with concrete and additional protection against the aggressive effects of the alkaline environment of concrete.
Flexible links apply:
- for brickwork (Ф 6 mm),
- for insulation of monolithic buildings (Ф 6 mm),
- for blocks (Ф 4 mm),
- for panel housing construction (Ф 6 mm).
10. Strip foundations for fences
Strip foundations provided for the following types fences: a fence with brick pillars, a metal forged fence and a fence made of timber or corrugated board with load-bearing metal posts.
Reinforcing the foundation for a fence using fiberglass reinforcement is very beneficial. Due to the high strength characteristics of fiberglass reinforcement and low loads, when reinforcing the foundation for a fence, composite reinforcement with diameters F4 and F6 is most often used.
Reinforcement technology is no different from the technology when using metal reinforcement, but much cheaper and faster in time. Longitudinal rods of fiberglass reinforcement are laid on the bottom of the dug trench on supports 4-7 cm high. The end rods of fiberglass should recede from the walls of the trench by 6-8 cm
Transverse reinforcement and vertical posts are usually knitted in increments of 400 mm.
The upper row of longitudinal reinforcement is attached to the racks so that it is 5-7 cm lower than the upper level of the trench. Then, the transverse fiberglass reinforcement of the upper row is laid.
11. Reinforcement of the pool bowl (bottom and walls)
12. Road construction
Fiberglass reinforcement receives positive feedback from builders due to its versatility, as it can be used to enhance strength roadbed, pillars, bridges.
13. Pedestrian concrete paths
For stiffening concrete walkway it is necessary to reinforce the base, although many people neglect this.
When reinforcing the walkway with fiberglass reinforcement, the thickness concrete base less can be done, resulting in substantial savings in concrete costs.
Also, the use of fiberglass reinforcement for reinforcing walkways protects concrete from disintegration into fragments.
14. Concrete platforms for driving and parking.
Before the start of reinforcement from above, under a concrete pad, a layer of crushed stone of 5 cm is poured onto a sand cushion and compacted. Reinforcement of fiberglass reinforcement reinforces the concrete structure, therefore, when arranging a site for a car parking lot, you cannot do without it.
The concreting of the area for the passage and parking of the car is carried out using fiberglass reinforcement, which is cut into bars of the required length. It is recommended to use fiberglass fittings with diameter Ф6.
The reinforcement frame is made directly at the installation site and will not take much time. Fiberglass rods are placed crosswise and tied with wire at the docking points.
15. Reinforcement of monolithic concretes containing antifreeze additives.
Fiberglass reinforcement, unlike metal, is resistant to alkaline environment. Antifreeze additives consist of alkali and salts that cause corrosion of the metal.
The use of fiberglass reinforcement when reinforcing monolithic concretes containing antifreeze additives increases the service life of the concrete base by several times and prevents the occurrence of cracks and protects concrete from disintegration into fragments.
Developed in the middle of the last century in the USSR, fiberglass reinforcement (abbreviated as ASP or SPA) began to be used on a large scale relatively recently. Fiberglass products gained popularity due to the reduction in the cost of their production. Light weight, high strength, wide range of applications and ease of installation have made SPA a good alternative to steel bars. The material is perfect for low-rise construction, construction of coastal fortifications, load-bearing structures of artificial reservoirs, elements of bridges, power lines.
Fiberglass composite reinforcement (AKS) is a rod made of glass woven filamentary fiber (roving) straight or twisted, fastened with a special composition. These are usually synthetic. epoxy resins. Another type is a fiberglass rod wound with carbon fiber. After winding, such glass fiber blanks are subjected to polymerization, turning them into monolithic rod. Fiberglass reinforcement has a diameter of 4 to 32 mm, a thickness of 4 to 8 mm is packed in coils. The bay contains 100-150 meters of rebar. It is also possible to cut in the factory, when the dimensions are provided by the customer. The strength characteristics of the rod depend on the production technology and the binder.
Packing and transportation options for ASP.
The material is produced by drawing. Fiberglass wound on reels is unwound, impregnated with resins and hardeners. After that, the workpiece is passed through the dies. Their purpose is to squeeze out excess resin. In the same place, the future reinforcement is compacted and acquires a characteristic shape with a cylindrical section and a given radius.
After that, a tourniquet is wound in a spiral on a workpiece that has not yet hardened. It is necessary for better adhesion to concrete. Then the material is baked in an oven, where the process of hardening and polymerization of the binder takes place. From the furnace, the rod is sent to the mechanism, where it is drawn. Tube furnaces are used in modern polymerization plants. They also remove volatile substances. finished products they are wound into coils or bars of the required length are cut (by prior order of the client). After the products are sent to the warehouse. Also, the client can order fittings with a given bending angle.
Purpose and scope
Fiberglass reinforcement is used in various sectors of industrial and private construction, for conventional and prestressed reinforcement of building structures and elements, the operation of which takes place in environments with varying degrees of aggressive impact. The most famous use cases.
- Reinforcement block, brick walls and walls made of gas silicate blocks. Fiberglass reinforcement showed very good results when reinforcing these structures. Main advantages: cost savings and lightweight structures.
- As a binder of concrete elements, between which there is a heater. SPA allows you to improve the adhesion of concrete elements.
- To strengthen the load-bearing elements of structures that are exposed to factors that cause corrosion (artificial reservoirs, bridges, fortifications of coastlines of fresh and salty natural reservoirs). Unlike metal rods, fiberglass rods do not corrode.
- For reinforcing laminated timber structures. The use of SPA rebar allows to significantly increase the strength of laminated wood beams and increase the rigidity of the structure.
- It is possible to use in the construction of strip buried foundations for low-rise buildings, if they are located on solid, immovable soils. Deepening is carried out below the freezing level of the soil.
- To increase the rigidity of floors in residential buildings and industrial complexes.
- To increase the strength and durability of the tracks and pavement.
Scope of fiberglass reinforcement.
Properties of fiberglass reinforcement
To understand the pros and cons of fiberglass reinforcement, you need to know its properties. Description of the advantages of fiberglass reinforcement are given below.
- In terms of corrosion resistance, fiberglass rods are almost 10 times higher than traditional metal rods. Products made of glass composite practically do not react with alkalis, salt solutions and acids.
- The coefficient of thermal conductivity is 0.35 W / m C versus 46 W / m C for steel bars, which eliminates the appearance of cold bridges and significantly reduces heat loss.
- The connection of glass composite rods is made with plastic clamps, knitting wire and appropriate clamps without a welding machine.
- Fiberglass reinforcement is an excellent dielectric. This property has been used since the middle of the last century in the construction of elements of power lines, railway bridges and other structures where the electrically conductive properties of steel adversely affect the operation of devices and the integrity of the structure.
- The weight of 1 meter of high-quality glass-composite reinforcement is 4 times less than a meter steel bar of equal diameter with equal tensile strength. This allows to reduce the weight of the structure by 7-9 times.
- Lower cost compared to analogues.
- Possibility of seamless installation.
- The value of the coefficient of thermal expansion is close to the coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete, which practically eliminates the occurrence of cracks during temperature changes.
- Wide temperature range at which the material can be used: from -60 C to +90 C.
- The declared service life is 50-80 years.
Fiberglass reinforcement in some cases can successfully replace steel, but it has a number of disadvantages that must be taken into account at the design stage. The main disadvantages of fiberglass reinforcement.
- Low temperature resistance. The binder ignites at a temperature of 200 C, which is not essential in a private house, but is unacceptable in industrial facilities where increased fire resistance requirements are imposed on structures.
- The modulus of elasticity is only 56,000 MPa (for steel reinforcing wire, about 200,000 MPa).
- The inability to independently bend the rod at the right angle. Curved rods are made at the factory to order.
- The strength of textolite products decreases over time.
- Fiberglass reinforcement has low fracture strength, which only gets worse over time.
- The impossibility of creating a solid, rigid frame.
Varieties of fittings
The use of fiberglass reinforcement in construction requires familiarization with the types of this material. By purpose, the material is divided into products:
- for installation work;
- working;
- distribution;
- for reinforcement structural elements from concrete.
According to the method of application, ASP is divided into:
- cut bars;
- reinforcing meshes;
- reinforcing frames.
Profile form:
- smooth;
- corrugated.
Profile shape of fiberglass reinforcement.
Comparative characteristics of SPA and steel reinforcement
In order to choose fiberglass reinforcement or steel, it is necessary to clearly compare the two types. Comparative characteristics steel and fiberglass reinforcement are shown in the table.
| Material | SPA | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength, MPa | 480-1600 | 480 -690 |
| Relative extension, % | 2,2 | 25 |
| Modulus of elasticity, MPa | 56 000 | 200 000 |
| Corrosion resistance | Not subject to corrosion | Subject to corrosion to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the type of steel |
| Thermal conductivity W/m C | 0,35 | 46 |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion in the longitudinal direction, x10 -6/C | 6-10 | 11,7 |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion in the transverse direction, x10-6/C | 21-23 | 11,7 |
| Electrical conductivity | Dielectric | Conductor |
| fracture strength | Low | High |
| Optimal temperature range | from -60 С to +90 С | The lower limit is from -196 C to -40 C; upper limit from 350 C to 750 C |
| Service life, years | up to 50 | 80-100 |
| Connection method | clamps, clamps, knitting wire | knitting wire, welding |
| Possibility of bending rods under construction conditions | No | there is |
| radio transparency | Yes | No |
| Environmental friendliness | Low toxicity material, safety class 4 | Non-toxic |
Features of SPA installation
The properties and technical characteristics of the spa make the material almost ideal for building a house with your own hands. In order for the house to be durable and serve several generations of the family, it is important to correctly install fiberglass reinforcement, taking into account its shortcomings.
Horizontal foundation reinforcement
The laying of the spa for reinforcing the foundation is carried out after the installation of the formwork and the preparation of the area. After that, a longitudinal layer of rods is laid. To do this, take rods with a diameter of 8 mm. A transverse one is laid on it. To do this, take a 6 mm SPA. These layers form a grid. The connection nodes are fixed with long clamps or knitting wire, the diameter of which is 1 mm, in 2 belts. Connections are made using, which you can buy or make yourself using a thick wire. For large volumes of work, it is recommended to use a knitting machine with an electric drive.
The edges of the grid of bars should be 5 cm from the formwork. You can achieve the desired location by means of clamps or ordinary bricks. When the mesh is ready and positioned correctly, pour concrete mix. Care must be taken here. The reinforcement for the ASP foundation does not have the same hardness as steel. If careless pouring, it can bend or move from a predetermined position. If the bars move, it will be extremely difficult to correct the situation after pouring.
To obtain a solid foundation without voids, the poured concrete mixture is rammed with a construction vibrator.
How to avoid problems?
The main problems that are associated with the use of glass fiber rods are poor quality / defective material and illiterate engineering design calculations. Problems can arise in the construction of a house if the characteristics of the fiberglass reinforcement used are not taken into account.
Accurate calculations, accuracy of work, strict adherence to the manufacturer's recommendations for the selection and installation of material will help to avoid problems during and after construction.
It is possible to check the quality of the goods before purchase only visually. To do this, pay attention to the following points.
- Manufacturer. If the goods are not purchased at the factory, it is necessary to request documentation for the goods, confirming its quality and factory (not handicraft) type of production.
- Color. A uniform color throughout the bar indicates quality. An unevenly colored product means that the production technology has been violated.
- Brown color indicates burnout of the substance.
- Green - about insufficient heat treatment.
- The surface of the rod must be free of chips, recesses, shells and other defects, the spiral winding must be even, continuous, with a constant pitch.
- Despite the desire to save money, you need to remember that high-quality fiberglass reinforcement is not sold cheaply. Too low cost indicates low strength and fragility.
The use of fiberglass reinforcement in some cases is advisable instead of metal reinforcement. Sometimes it is permissible to combine metal and fiberglass rods in the construction of one structure. In order not to later regret the use of ACS, one should carefully carry out calculations of future buildings at the design stage. Composite reinforcement is selected similarly to steel, taking into account key parameters: bending strength, tensile strength, etc.
The possibility of using fiberglass rods is evaluated based on the mobility and type of soil, fire safety requirements, longitudinal and transverse loads that will affect the structure. For example, on swampy and mobile soils, metal reinforcement is used for reinforcement. Fiberglass reinforcement will simply be broken by soil movements due to its low fracture strength.
From this article you will learn:
Let's try to understand this and decide where the use of fiberglass reinforcement is justified and where it is not.
By itself, fiberglass reinforcement is a fiberglass rod, with a thread wound around it in the form of a spiral, for good adhesion to concrete. Its use is justified in many cases, but in some designs it is highly discouraged.
Now let's look at everything in order - first we will consider the advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass reinforcement, and then, based on them, we will determine where its use will be appropriate. At the end of the article, I will give my personal opinion on applications of fiberglass reinforcement.
Like any building material, fiberglass reinforcement has its own advantages and disadvantages compared to similar metal ones, which can be a serious help or hindrance in its use in various areas of construction.
Let's start with the benefits:
Advantages of fiberglass reinforcement
1. Small specific gravity. This advantage allows it to be used in lightweight structures, such as, for example, cellular concrete, etc. This property of fiberglass reinforcement allows to reduce the weight of the entire structure.
It is worth noting that the use of fiberglass reinforcement in ordinary concrete will not have the same significant effect on the mass of the structure, given that the main weight will be given by the concrete itself.
2. Low thermal conductivity. As you know, fiberglass conducts heat through itself much worse than metal.
This advantage of fiberglass reinforcement allows it to be used where it is necessary to reduce cold bridges, which are so wonderfully created by steel reinforcement.
3. Packing in coils. For the construction of private houses, this is a very significant advantage of fiberglass reinforcement, because you can not spend money on its delivery to the site, and, as you know, when building a house, especially if you build it yourself, every penny counts.
In addition to the above, it can be added that the use of fiberglass reinforcement in bays reduces its consumption, since there will be practically no overlaps in the reinforcing cage, and this will also slightly reduce financial costs.
4. Durability. Manufacturers rely on the fact that fiberglass, compared to metal, is much more durable.
This is a slightly dubious advantage of fiberglass reinforcement, given that the metal inside the concrete is practically not subject to corrosion inside. reinforced concrete structure will also last a very long time.
5. Dielectric. This property, most likely, in private construction does not give any advantages of fiberglass reinforcement over metal, but you should not forget about it either.
6. Chemical resistance. This means that in acidic and other aggressive chemical environments, fiberglass reinforcement is much more comfortable than steel.
In low-rise private construction, this advantage of fiberglass, just like the previous one, practically does not play any role, with the exception of construction in winter, when various salts detrimental to the metal.
7. radio transparency. This means that fiberglass reinforcement does not create any radio interference, unlike the metal contours created by steel reinforcement.
Such an advantage of fiberglass reinforcement as radio transparency will play a significant role only if there are a lot of reinforcement in the walls of your house. Then the use of fiberglass reinforcement will reduce radio interference inside the house.
We figured out the advantages, now let's look at the disadvantages of fiberglass reinforcement used in construction.
Disadvantages of fiberglass reinforcement
Any material has drawbacks and fiberglass reinforcement is no exception.
1. Fiberglass reinforcement is more expensive ordinary steel if we compare fittings of the same diameter.
A slightly dubious drawback, since manufacturers claim that fiberglass reinforcement is used in construction with a smaller diameter than metal.
2. Thermally unstable. Fiberglass reinforcement does not withstand high temperatures.
It’s also a dubious drawback, because in low-rise private construction I can’t even imagine a situation where it will be necessary to heat the reinforcement to 200 degrees.
3. Doesn't bend. Thus, if we need, for example, to bend the reinforcement at an angle of 90 degrees, we will not be able to do this. Although, on the other hand, we can make all the bends from ordinary steel and build them up with fiberglass.
4. Low modulus of elasticity at fracture. This means that fiberglass reinforcement does not withstand the same loads for fracture as metal.
Many manufacturers claim the opposite - that the modulus of elasticity of fiberglass reinforcement is greater, but this is most likely what they mean by tension, and concrete, as a rule, is subject to more loads specifically for fracture. This is the main drawback, due to which the use of fiberglass reinforcement in construction is limited.
5. Difficulty in the construction of a rigid reinforcing cage. In other words, a frame made of fiberglass reinforcement is not as rigid as a metal one, and, accordingly, less resistant to vibration and stress that will be present when pouring concrete from a truck mixer.
When you pour concrete into a trench or formwork from an automixer, it is necessary that the rebar cage is very rigid, because the rebar can “jump off” or simply press against the floor or walls of the trench, and this will be difficult to fix once the concrete has been poured.
So we have considered almost all the main advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass reinforcement. Judging by them, it is impossible to say with great certainty that it is much better or worse than metal reinforcement, so let's consider in which building structures and structures the use of fiberglass reinforcement will be justified and expedient.
The use of fiberglass reinforcement in construction
The use of fiberglass reinforcement is justified in some cases both in industrial construction and in private low-rise buildings.
Regarding industrial construction, I think it’s not worth talking much, nevertheless, the site is dedicated to building houses with our own hands, so let's look at the scope of fiberglass reinforcement in private low-rise construction.
1. Fiberglass reinforcement is used in some types of foundations, such as strip - buried below the freezing depth, slab foundation.
It should be noted that this applies only to low-rise private buildings, on good ground. On floating soils, there will be increased fracture loads that fiberglass reinforcement may not withstand.
2. It is advisable to use fiberglass reinforcement in the reinforcement of brick walls, walls made of blocks, it is very often possible to find reinforcement of walls made of gas silicate blocks with fiberglass reinforcement.
The use of fiberglass reinforcement in wall reinforcement is very popular among developers. Moreover, such reinforcement is used as an element of reinforcing the walls themselves, and as a bundle of a facing wall with a carrier.
3. In multilayer panels as links. Since inside the panels, as a rule, there is a dense insulation, fiberglass reinforcement is used to connect the concrete parts together.
4. The use of fiberglass reinforcement in the bearing parts of elements subject to increased corrosion, such as swimming pools, is justified.
Metal reinforcement will corrode when concrete is in water, and fiberglass reinforcement does not have such a drawback, based on one of its advantages.
5. Also, fiberglass reinforcement is widely used in the reinforcement of glued wooden beams increasing their rigidity.
6. Reinforcement of asphalt, in places of increased loads, although I have never seen this before.
As you can see, the scope of fiberglass reinforcement in construction is quite wide, although there are some limitations.
The author's opinion on the use of fiberglass reinforcement in construction
I believe that fiberglass reinforcement is not yet able to completely replace metal, but this does not mean that it can be completely neglected.
I widely use it in the construction of block and brick walls, also as ties between a facing wall and a load-bearing one, since when using metal as ties, firstly, it will be subject to corrosion, and secondly, the metal creates cold bridges, which in modern construction highly undesirable.
The use of fiberglass reinforcement in the foundation is also justified if you have a light building, for example, frame house or a garage.
If the site has weak soil and huge loads on the foundation are foreseen, I would not risk using reinforcement, which has less fracture elasticity than metal.
Traditional Construction Materials are regularly improved, acquiring new performance characteristics and increasing the quality of existing technical parameters. At the same time, it is also observed tendency to replace classical approaches in construction with innovative solutions. These include the successful entry into the building materials market of composite reinforcement.
Although disputes about the extent to which the use of this material as replacement of steel bars are still relevant whole line its advantages are indisputable and have long been appreciated by experts. In particular, composite reinforcement for the foundation, reviews of engineers about which emphasize its strength and ease of use, is becoming more popular and expanding its scope.
What is composite rebar?
The main feature of this material is its non-metallic origin. Although the main list of functions of such rods involves providing very important load-bearing tasks, they are not made of steel, as is the case with classical reinforcement.
However, similar performance characteristics fully comply composite fibers of glass, basalt, carbon and aramid. It is these components, as well as their combinations, that form the basis of composite rods. Actually, hence the names of such reinforcement - fiberglass, glass-reinforced or basalt-plastic.
However, the use of synthetic fibers alone is not enough to ensure high strength and reliability of the same foundation structures. An essential step in the fabrication process is undergoing processing by means of thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer additives . Thanks to them, the structure of future rods is rejected.
Further, as in the case of steel reinforcement, composite analogues endowed with ribs and a special coating of sand, which increases the binding and adhesive qualities in contact with concrete pouring under the foundation.
Advantages of composite reinforcement
The advantages of composite materials are due using synthetic raw materials. Thus, ample opportunities are provided for introducing the necessary physical and technical qualities of the material, and the influence of negative factors is excluded or at least minimized.
One way or another, most of the advantages are focused on reinforcing the foundation with composite reinforcement in order to create strong and reliable foundations for buildings and structures. So, among the advantages of synthetic rods, the following stand out:
Disadvantages of composite reinforcement
Despite all the advantages of composite reinforcement, disputes about the advisability of its use also indicate the presence of disadvantages. In particular, the following disadvantages are noted:
Applications
Synthetic reinforcement has found application in various fields industrial and civil construction. With its help, residential buildings are erected, factory complexes are being built, used in the installation of technological structures, etc.
The use of composite reinforcement in foundations for low-rise buildings and cottages. In addition, composite rods perform well in concrete structures. It can be wall masonry with flexible ties, as well as the device of brick and reinforced concrete structures.
Modern builders do not do without synthetic material and where it is impossible to use steel rods. For instance, in frosty conditions it is necessary to add special additives in the form of hardening accelerators and antifreeze additives to masonry mortars. Such introductions have a negative effect on metal rods, but they are harmless for composite reinforcement.
Modern road construction technologies also provide for the possibility of using synthetic reinforcement. It is used in the construction of pavements, embankments, to strengthen other road elements exposed to chemically harmful reagents. As a rule, the use of a composite in this area involves one goal - the creation of a strong bond with a strengthening property. For this purpose, the rods are introduced into road slopes, bridge structures and various canvases that experience increased traffic loads.
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