STEEL and BLENDED FIBER REINFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS
Steel fibers are manufactured from ASTM A820 Type I cold drawn high tensile wire. Blended fiber reinforcement is an engineered blending of both steel and polypropylene fibers, used for secondary concrete reinforcement.
Concrete pavements and floor slab systems are often required to perform under intense conditions, including point loads from rack legs, landing gear, and trailer stands, and dynamic loading from vehicle traffic. The uniform distribution of steel and blended fibers throughout the mix transforms concrete into a more ductile composite material, increasing the energy absorption capability of the slab or pavement. Additionally, steel and blended fibers provide superior crack control; improved impact, fatigue, and flexural strengths; enhanced toughness; and maximum load stability where it is needed most, around slab and pavement joints.
With properly proportioned mixes, steel and blended fiber-reinforced concretes can be placed by most conventional methods, including pumping. Overly wet mixes that are pumped can segregate; thus, addition of water to the concrete mix at the job site should be avoided with steel or blended fiber-reinforced concretes. A vibrating screed, laser screed, or roller screed are the preferred methods of consolidating concrete with steel or blended reinforcement fibers.
Adding steel and blended fibers at the ready-mix plant helps contractors to improve the quality of applicable concrete installations while saving time in a safe and cost effective manner. With steel or blended fiber-reinforced concrete, purchasing, storage, transportation, and job site reinforcement fabrication are eliminated, labor costs are lowered, and yard and job site liability is reduced. Increased job site productivity saves construction time, leads to a quicker concrete placement schedule, and reduces the time to place the slab, pavement, bridge deck, or parking structure in service.
Schmitz Ready Mix has significant experience providing steel and blended fiber-reinforced concretes, including:
- Novocon® 1050 manufactured by Propex SI Concrete Systems – an ASTM A820 Type I cold drawn high tensile wire fiber specifically designed to provide tight-width crack control and joint stability for heavy industrial slabs on ground.
- Novomesh® 850 manufactured by Propex SI Concrete Systems – an engineered blend of steel and polypropylene fibers for secondary concrete reinforcement. Novomesh 850 is recommended for commercial slabs on ground, external pavements, and composite metal decks.
For more information on steel or blended fiber-reinforced concrete, contact:
Hal Janke, Sales Manager | HJanke@schmitzmix.com • 414.831.2452
Jason Libka, Quality Control Manager | JLibka@schmitzmix.com • 414.831.2434
Novomesh ®and Novocon ®are registered trademarks of Propex SI Concrete Systems.
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