Seminar Report On

(“GLASS FIBRE REINFORCE CONCRETE”)

In the partial fulfilment of the requirement for Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering.

Submitted by

Satish Mahadev Khandare

(TE-A-roll no. 56)
GUIDED BY

Prof : T.Y. Niwal

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

JSPM Narhe Technical Campus, Pune.

SAVITRIBAI PHULE PUNE UNIVERSITY, PUNE

2022 – 2023

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 JSPM Narhe Technical Campus Pune.
(SAVITRIBAI PHULE PUNE UNIVERSITY, PUNE)

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the following student have satisfactorily carried out T.E.
Seminar work entitled “Glass Fibre Reinforce Concrete”. This work is being
submitted for the award of degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineering. It is submitted in
the partial fulfillment of the prescribed syllabus of Savitribai Phule Pune University,
Pune for the academic year 2022 – 2023.

Name : Satish Mahadev Khandare

TE-A- (Roll No.56)

Dr. S. B. Khaple Prof : T.Y.Niwal

(Head of Department) (Guided by)

(External Examiner)

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, I would like to thank my guide of this project, Prof. T.Y.
Niwal for the valuable guidance and advice. I was able to complete my report under
his/her guidance.I wholeheartedly thank them for giving me their valuable time and
attention and providing me systematic way for completing my presentation in time.

I would like to thank Dr. S. B. Khaple, Head of Department of Civil Engineering,

JSPM Narhe Technical Campus Pune, for providing facilities for completion of
report also would like to thank my friends for listening to the ideas, asking questions
And providing suggestions for improving ideas and also for their help

Student Name : Satish Mahadev Khandare

Roll no.: A-56

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 ABSTRACT
Glass Fibre Reinforced concrete is a recent introduction in the field of
concrete technology. It has been extensively used in over 100 countries since its
introduction in 1980’s. this product is covered by international standards and has
been practiced all over the world. GFRC has advantage of being light weight and
there by reducing the overall cost of construction there by bringing economy in
construction . this work is only an accumulation of information about GFR from all
over the internet and some text books.
GFRC is concrete that uses glass fibres for reinforcement instead of steel. It
is typically cast in a thin section of around 1/2" to 3/4". Since the fibres cannot
rust like steel, there is no need for a protective concrete cover thickness
to prevent rusting. With the thin, hollow construction of GFRC products,
they can weigh a fraction of weight of traditional precast concrete.

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 Index

Sr.No Content Page No.

1. Introduction
1.1 Introduction of Report work
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Objectives
2. Literature review
3. Methodology
4. Conclusion
5. Reference

List of figures

Sr. no Fig. name Page no

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
4.1

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 CHAPTER NO.:- 1

INTRODUCTION
Fiber Reinforced Concrete can be defined as a composite material consisting of mixtures of cement,
mortar or concrete and discontinuous, discrete, uniformly dispersed suitable fibers. Continuous meshes,
woven fabrics and long wires or rods are not considered to be discrete fibers.
Fiber is a small piece of reinforcing material possessing certain characteristics properties. They can
be circular or flat. The fiber is often described by a convenient parameter called “aspect ratio”. The aspect
ratio of the fiber is the ratio of its length to its diameter. Typical aspect ratio ranges from 30 to 150.
Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is concrete containing fibrous material which increases its structural
integrity. It contains short discrete fibers that are uniformly distributed and randomly oriented. Fibers
include steel fibers, glass fibers, synthetic fibers and natural fibers. Within these different fibers that
character of fiber reinforced concrete changes with varying concretes, fiber materials, geometries,
distribution, orientation and densities.
Fibre-reinforcement is mainly used in shotcrete, but can also be used in normal concrete. Fibre-
reinforced normal concrete are mostly used for on-ground floors and pavements, but can be considered for a
wide range of construction parts (beams, pliers, foundations etc) either alone or with hand-tied rebars
Concrete reinforced with fibres (which are usually steel, glass or “plastic” fibres) is less expensive
than hand-tied rebar, while still increasing the tensile strength many times. Shape, dimension and length of
fibre is important. A thin and short fibre, for example short hair-shaped glass fibre, will only be effective the
first hours after

pouring the concrete (reduces cracking while the concrete is stiffening) but will not increase the concrete
tensile strength

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 GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE
"Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete" is actually cement mortar with countless strands of embedded
glass fiber; it is a true composite material. It does not have the graded rock aggregates or steel-reinforcing
bars normally associated with concrete.The principal material asset of GFRC is tensile strength or the ability
to have strength when stretched. This tensile strength characteristic also creates dramatically enhanced
impact strength. It shares equally the two primary assets of conventional concrete, which are compressive
strength and longevity. Conventional concrete has the trait known as "brittle failure" because it has a semi-
crystalline structure, which tends to shatter on impact. This is especially dangerous when subjected
to explosive force because ballistic debris is created which can create significant collateral damage. This is
not the case with GRFC, as it does not experience brittle failure. The glass fiber tends to hold the material
together because the fibers are dispersed randomly and lay in all directions within the material matrix.
GFRC has a dramatically reduced ballistic debris profile.
In general, fibers are the principal load-carrying members, while the surrounding matrix keeps them
in the desired locations and orientation, acting as a load transfer medium between them, and protects them
from environmental damage.
In fact, the fibers provide reinforcement for the matrix and other useful functions in fiber-reinforced
composite materials. Glass fibers can be incorporated into a matrix either in continuous lengths or in
discontinuous (chopped) lengths.

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 FIBRE FORMATION
Glass fiber is formed when thin strands of silica-based or other formulation glass are extruded into
many fibers with small diameters suitable for textile processing. The technique of heating and drawing glass
into fine fibers has been known for millennia; however, the use of these fibers for textile applications is
more recent. Until this time all glass fiber had been manufactured as staple (a term used to describe clusters
of short lengths of fiber). The first commercial production of glass fiber was in 1936. In 1938 Owens-Illinois
Glass Company and Corning Glass Works joined to form the Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation. When
the two companies joined to produce and promote glass fiber, they introduced continuous filament glass
fibers. Owens-Corning is still the major glass-fiber producer in the market today.
The types of glass fiber most commonly used are mainly E-glass (alumino-borosilicate glass with
less than 1% w/w alkali oxides, mainly used for glass-reinforced plastics), but also A-glass (alkali-lime glass
with little or no boron oxide), E-CR-glass (alumino-lime silicate with less than 1% w/w alkali oxides, has
high acid resistance), C-glass (alkali-lime glass with high boron oxide content, used for example for glass
staple fibers), D-glass (borosilicate glass with high dielectric constant), R-glass (alumino silicate glass
without MgO and CaO with high mechanical requirements), and S-glass (alumino silicate glass without CaO
but with high MgO content with high tensile strength).

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 PROPERTIES OF GLASS FIBRES

Glass fibers have the following properties:

 A high tensile strength (1700 N/mm2),

3-4 times higher tensile strength than steel

 High modulus (in other words not stretchy, 10 times that of polypropylene. Low
modulus fibers on the other hand, stretch and allow concrete to crack),
 Impact Resistance,
 Shear strength,
 Shrinkage and moisture movement,
 Acoustical properties,
 Thermal conductivity,
 Permeability and moisture absorption,
 Water resistant,
 Light weight,
 Low thernal expansion,
 Less crep with increase in time,
 Good freeze-thaw resistance,
 Light weight and Low density,
 Resistance to corrosion and Fire endurance,
 Resistance to cracks in concrete.

Properties based on spray gfrc and premix

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method gfrc

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Manufacturing process
Melting:-
There are two main types of glass fiber manufacture and two main types of glass fiber product. First,
fiber is made either from a direct melt process or a marble remelt process. Both start with the raw materials
in solid form. The materials are mixed together and melted in a furnace. Then, for the marble process, the
molten material is sheared and rolled into marbles which are cooled and packaged. The marbles are taken to
the fiber manufacturing facility where they are inserted into a can and remelted. The molten glass is
extruded to the bushing to be formed into fiber. In the direct melt process, the molten glass in the furnace
goes right to the bushing for formation.

Formation:-
The bushing plate is the most important part of the machinery for making the fiber. This is a
small metal furnace containing nozzles for the fiber to be formed through. It is almost always
made of platinum alloyed with rhodium for durability. Platinum is used because the glass melt
has a natural affinity for wetting it. When bushings were first used they were 100% platinum
and the glass wetted the bushing so easily it ran under the plate after exiting the nozzle and
accumulated on the underside. Also, due to its cost and the tendency to wear, the platinum was
alloyed with rhodium. In the direct melt process, the bushing serves as a collector for the
molten glass. It is heated slightly to keep the glass at the
correct temperature for fiber formation. In the marble melt process, the bushing acts more like a furnace as it
melts more of the material.
Bushings are the major expense in fiber glass production. The nozzle design is also critical. The
number of nozzles ranges from 200 to 4000 in multiples of 200. The important part of the nozzle in
continuous filament manufacture is the thickness of its walls in the exit region. It was found that inserting a
counterbore here reduced wetting. Today, the nozzles are designed to have a minimum thickness at the exit.
As glass flows through the nozzle it forms a drop which is suspended from the end. As it falls, it leaves a
thread attached by the meniscus to the nozzle as long as the viscosity is in the correct range for fiber
formation. The smaller the annular ring of the nozzle or the thinner the wall at exit, the faster the drop will
form and fall away, and the lower its tendency to wet the vertical part of the nozzle. The surface tension of
the glass is what influences the formation of the meniscus. For E-glass it should be around 400 mN per m.
The attenuation (drawing) speed is important in the nozzle design. Although slowing this speed
down can make coarser fiber, it is uneconomic to run at speeds for which the nozzles were not designed.

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Continuous filament process:-
In the continuous filament process, after the fiber is drawn, a size is applied. This size helps protect
the fiber as it is wound onto a bobbin. The particular size applied relates to end-use. While some sizes are
processing aids, others make the fiber have an affinity for a certain resin, if the fiber is to be used in a
composite. Size is usually added at 0.5–2.0% by weight. Winding then takes place at around 1000 m per
min.

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SAFETY REGARDING GLASS FIBRES
Glass fiber has increased in popularity since the discovery that asbestos causes cancer and its
subsequent removal from most products. However, the safety of glass fiber is also being called into
question, as research shows that the composition of this material (asbestos and glass fiber are both silicate
fibers) can cause similar toxicity as asbestos.[
1970s studies on rats found that fibrous glass of less than 3 micrometers in diameter and greater than 20
micrometers in length is a "potent carcinogen". Likewise, the International Agency for Research on
Cancer found it "may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen" in 1990. The American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists, on the other hand, says that there is insufficient evidence, and that glass
fiber is in group A4: "Not classifiable as a human carcinogen".
The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) claims that glass fiber is
fundamentally different from asbestos, since it is man-made instead of naturally-occurring. They claim that
glass fiber "dissolves in the lungs", while asbestos remains in the body for life. Although both glass fiber
and asbestos are made from silica filaments, NAIMA claims that asbestos is more dangerous because of its
crystalline structure, which causes it to cleave into smaller, more dangerous pieces, citing the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services: Synthetic vitreous fibers [fiber glass] differ from asbestos in
two ways that may provide at least partial explanations for their lower toxicity. Because most synthetic
vitreous fibers are not crystalline like asbestos, they do not split longitudinally to form thinner fibers. They
also generally have markedly

less biopersistence in biological tissues than asbestos fibers because they can undergo dissolution and
transverse breakage.
A 1998 study using rats found that the biopersistence of synthetic fibers after one year was 0.04–
10%, but 27% for amosite asbestos. Fibers that persisted longer were found to be more carcinogenic.

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Advantages of gfrc
 In numerous environmental conditions, like when exposed to salts or moisture, GFRC is likely to
function better due to the absence of steel reinforcement that may corrode.
 Relatively light in weight compared to the traditional stones. Its installation is fast and comparatively
simple.
 GFRC has the characteristics to be cast into almost any shape.
 GFRC consists of materials that are unlikely to burn. The concrete takes the role of a thermal regulator
while exposed to fire and protects the materials from the flame heat.
 GFRC is thin and strong, with weight being 75% to 90% less compared to solid concrete. Less weight
facilitates easy and rapid installation, and also decreases the load applied on the structure. The light
weight and tough material also minimizes the transportation expenditures, permits flexibility in design,
and reduces the impact on environment.
 Superior strength enhances the ability to endure seismic loads.
 GFRC is less vulnerable to weather effects and more resistant to freeze thaw than the normal concrete.
 Reduces the thermal and moisture induced stresses and allows the concrete to shrink and expand
without restraint.
 Limitless opportunities for architectural expression.
 Surface can be left uncoated.
 Naturally Friendly to the Environment
 Disaster Resistant

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Disadvantages

 No ductility.
 Its unidirectional reinforcements leads to uneven shrinkage and warpage.
 Used as NON-load bearing only
 Requires separate anchorage system for installation
 Large panels must be reinforced
 Color additives may fade with sunlight
 May have different absorption rate than adjacent historic material

APPLICATIONS
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 Exterior Ornamentation
 Interior Details
 Landscape Furnishings
 Architectural projects
 Airfields and Runways
 In Rocket launch pads
 Glass Fibres is also used in making of heat and corrosion resistant fabrics.
 Used in automobiles and sports goods also.

 Glass fiber is extensively used for making FRP tanks and vessels.

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 Repairs executed using gfrc
BEFORE AFTER

Architectural projects

Structures constructed using gfrc

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 The bridge pavilion in Spain (270 mtrs long)
(constructed in 2008)

Conclusion
Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete is an engineered material has excellent properties that can be
conveniently used for many construction works and it is a suitable material for architects to give life to their
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imaginations as structures by properly using this flexible material. A properly designed, manufactured and
installed GFRC system will provide an innovative and aesthetically pleasing appearance, while often
reducing overall cost, onsite labour requirements and shortening construction schedules. Glass Fibre
Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) offers an endless variety of decorative and ornamental shapes and forms at
affordable prices

References

 APA: Architectural Precast Association. Ft. Myers, FL. April 25, 2003.
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 http://www.archprecast.org/gfrchand.htm
 Park, Sharon C., AIA. The Use of Substitute Materials on Historic Building Exteriors. April 25,
2003.
http://www.historichomeworks.com/hhw/pbriefs/pb16.htm
 Stoneware: Composite Stone Products. Carson City, NV. April 25th, 2003.
http://www.stonewear.com

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 CHAPTER NO.:- 3

1.

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