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Pros and cons of composite fiberglass reinforcement. Advantages and disadvantages of composite reinforcement Disadvantages of composite reinforcement

Pros and cons of composite fiberglass reinforcement. Advantages and disadvantages of composite reinforcement Disadvantages of composite reinforcement

Fiberglass rebar is a building material made from glass roving bonded with an epoxy compound based on thermosetting resins. The main feature is lightness, the mass index per unit volume is only 2g/mm³. It is more convenient and economically feasible to work with fiberglass reinforcement than with metal reinforcement. Significantly less logistics and direct reinforcement costs are required.

In addition, due to the fact that fiberglass does not react to an aggressive environment, therefore, reinforcement protects concrete from premature destruction, thereby increasing the service life of the object. Fiberglass reinforcement reacts to temperature changes in the same way as concrete, which is also well reflected in the strength of the structure.

The strength of fiberglass in comparison with metal is 2.5 times higher. With all this, the thermal conductivity index is 100 times lower than the thermal conductivity index of steel. Therefore, a structure reinforced with fiberglass does not freeze through (does not form “cold bridges”) and an object built using fiberglass will be warmer than a building based on metal reinforcement. This allows you to reduce heating costs, and therefore the material is actively used in the construction of modern energy-efficient buildings.

Another undeniable advantage that may be of interest to builders is the fact that fiberglass is a surprisingly durable material that can do without additional repairs for 100 years after installation. This is what fiberglass reinforcement for the foundation is famous for.

Fiberglass reinforcement has found its application in many areas of industry, construction, utilities:

in construction, it is used in the construction of civil and industrial construction objects as a basis for foundations, floors, beams, as well as in the construction of seismic-resistant belts;
in the construction and repair of roads, reinforcement is used in the arrangement of embankments, roadbeds, in the construction of bridges and highway barriers. It is resistant to the effects of reagents that are applied to road surfaces (for example, anti-icing reagents), so it can be used both in Moscow and in colder regions.

Fiberglass reinforcement will be an ideal basis for concrete and brick structures. It is used in the creation of supports for power lines and lighting, in the construction of road, paving and fence slabs, as well as in the construction of sleepers on railway tracks. Reinforcement for ceilings, where a mesh of reinforcement is used, even together with a metal one, has received wide use.

Fiberglass is applicable in such building structures as a monolithic foundation and foam concrete. It is also actively used in the creation of structures that must have increased resistance to chemicals, for example:

during the construction of storage facilities for chemical waste and components;
in the arrangement of sewerage, water pipes, melioration systems;
in the construction of port facilities and in the strengthening of coastlines.

Despite the uniqueness of the product, the price of fiberglass reinforcement in Moscow, which is indicated on our website, is an affordable material for both construction organizations and individuals. Its cost is 40-50% lower than the cost of steel reinforcement, which allows you to significantly reduce costs and at the same time improve the quality of the objects under construction. In general, composite reinforcement can be called one of the most reliable and efficient building materials of our time.

This reinforcement is made of straight strands of glass or basalt fibers (ASP and ABP, respectively), which are assembled into a bundle, impregnated with a thermosetting polymer binder, molded, heated (polymerized) and cooled. The result is a high-strength monolithic rod, which, according to test results, is 3 times higher than the tensile strength of steel, and the weight, in an equal strength ratio, is 9 times less.

Standardly manufactured in the form of rods of any length, at the request of the customer. With a diameter of up to 8 mm inclusive, it can be made in the form of coils (coils) containing 100 meters of reinforcement. Overall dimensions of the bay: height - up to 8 cm, diameter - up to 1 meter.

release form

With a diameter of 10 mm and 12 mm, it can be made in the form of coils (bay fittings) having a length of 50 meters. Overall dimensions of the bay: height - up to 5 cm, diameter - up to 1.5 meters.

By agreement with the customer, it is possible to manufacture rods and coils of any length.
It can be made with a smooth, building, periodic profile:

ASP-ABP of a periodic profile, used instead of steel reinforcement of class A-III (A-400);
ASP-ABP smooth profile, used instead of steel reinforcement class A-I (A-240).

Fiberglass rebar is becoming more and more popular and its use is becoming more and more relevant every year, because it is a full-fledged replacement for traditional steel bars of different grades. High strength indicators, optimal performance properties, low specific weight and low price are the factors that determine the popularity of the use of non-metallic reinforcing elements in all areas of construction.

Non-metallic composite reinforcement is a reinforcing agent in the form of fiberglass rods with a ribbed surface. In the profile, such reinforcement has a spiral shape, and its diameter can be from 4 to 18 millimeters. The length of this building material can reach 12 meters.

Appearance of polymer rods.

Fiberglass reinforcement before mass introduction to the market has passed many serious tests. As a result, such studies have established that this building material has a number of advantages, such as:

Low weight, which is 9 times lower than the mass of classical metal fittings;
High resistance to corrosion and acids;
Excellent performance in terms of energy efficiency;
Economy in delivery;
Inertness to electromagnetic and radio impact;
Fiberglass reinforcement refers to dielectrics.

Of course, in addition to the advantages, this building material has certain disadvantages. Such shortcomings cannot be classified as critical, but it is important to take them into account when erecting certain types of buildings.

Disadvantages of composite reinforcement:

Low elasticity;
Low temperature resistance parameters.

At the same time, such shortcomings of the material do not affect its use in the construction of roads and building foundations.

The use of this technology in the construction of the foundation (advantages, disadvantages, method of application)

In the process of laying the foundation, composite reinforcement is used similarly to metal. At the first stage, the frame of the future foundation is assembled from this material, which is subsequently pulled together with special screeds.

Manufacturers of fiberglass reinforcement themselves do not impose any restrictions on its use for certain types of foundations. In other words, such material can be freely used for the construction of any low-rise buildings.

According to minimum estimates, the service life of such polymer elements is at least 80 years. It should be noted that this building material costs a little more than the usual metal rods, while certain funds can be saved during its delivery, due to the much lower weight.

There are various construction methods and conditions. If the construction site involves the constant presence of metal parts in an aggressive environment for them, it makes sense to use composite reinforcement.

With the right selection of plastic fittings, it will provide the same strength as metal.

Rods before pouring concrete.

Main areas of use

There are two main forms of production of composite reinforcement:

Smooth plastic rods, supplemented with a glass spiral to improve the quality of fixation;
Fittings of the usual form, repeating the structure of the metal.

Most experts advise giving preference to the second type.

The main scope of fiberglass reinforcement is the construction of foundations for low-rise buildings. When building a foundation, in each individual case, reinforcement of a specific diameter is used.

In addition, such material is often used to bind brickwork. In this way, thermal bridges can be avoided, which increases the overall efficiency of the building.

Opinion of builders

Now there is a steady trend of popularization among builders and large developers of composite reinforcement. In most cases, you can find positive opinions about this material. Experts note that such rods are virtually waste-free during construction work. Another important factor is their ease of use.

Most experts agree that in certain construction areas, such a material has significant advantages over metal reinforcing rods. The main advantage of these plastic rods is the possibility of using almost any length.

Use of Composite Materials to Reinforce Bridge Deck Slabs

One of the main factors confirming the high strength and reliability parameters of composite reinforcement is its widespread use in construction areas that withstand constant severe loads (bridges, coastline structures, roads).

This is due to the fact that such material has excellent parameters of resistance to seismological activity of the earth. It has been experimentally proven that fiberglass rebar does not lose its basic technical characteristics even under a magnitude 10 earthquake, making it the best choice for reinforcing concrete bridge deck slabs.

In addition, it should be noted that plastic, unlike metal, is not subject to corrosion, which is an important factor in the construction of bridges that are constantly in contact with water and a humid environment.

Differences in the characteristics of polymer and metal reinforcing rods

The main competitor for plastic reinforcing bars is the traditional metal reinforcement used in concrete slabs and ceilings. In general, these two building materials are very similar to each other. At the same time, in some respects, fiberglass reinforcement demonstrates significantly more impressive performance than metal reinforcing equipment. In such conditions, it is worth making a small comparison of the technical characteristics of metal and polymer reinforcement:

Deformation indicators. Steel rods are an elastic-plastic material, while composite reinforcement is an ideally elastic building material;
Indicators of ultimate strength. The metal demonstrates the following parameters 390 MPa, and fiberglass 1300 MPa;
The size of the thermal conductivity coefficient. For metal, this parameter is 46 W / mOS, and for composite 0.35 W / mOS;
Indicators of structural density. For steel, this parameter is 7850 kg / m3, and for fiberglass 1900 kg / m3;
Thermal conductivity parameters. Unlike steel structures, fiberglass does not conduct heat at all;
Corrosion resistance. Fiberglass reinforcement does not rust at all. In this case, steel refers to a relatively quickly rusting material;
electrical conductivity of the product. Composite reinforcing building material is essentially a dielectric. At the same time, one of the disadvantages of metal fittings is the ability to conduct electrical current.

External differences between metal and composite rods.

Physical parameters of fiberglass reinforcing material

According to today's requirements, composite rods must be characterized by three main physical parameters, namely:

Weight of elements;
winding distance;
External as well as internal diameter.

Each individual profile number has its own physical indicators. The only constant parameter is the winding distance, equal to 15 millimeters. The current TU regulates that composite rods differing in profile size have the following numerical designations: 4, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. These numerical values correspond to the parameters of the outer diameter. The mass of reinforcing rods can vary from 0.02 to 0.42 kg / 1 p.m.

Calculation procedure for building structures with composite reinforcing materials

The process of calculating structures in which composite reinforcement is used can be demonstrated by the example of calculating the operation of a beam, where steel reinforcement D12 mm is used.

Such reinforcing bars A500C, having a diameter of 12 millimeters, have such characteristics as:

The value of the modulus of elasticity at the level of 200 GPa;
The normative resistance indicators are 500 MPa, which is slightly less than the yield parameters of the steel used in the manufacture of these rods.

Based on these data, the approximate maximum load on the rod is 4.5 tons. With such a load, the tensile parameters of the reinforcement will reach 2.5 mm / m

In the documentation that comes with fiberglass reinforcement, there is always a plate of its compliance with steel reinforcing rods.

So, fiberglass reinforcement, in order to comply with the parameters of steel A500C with a diameter of 12 mm, must have a diameter of 10 mm.

In other words, the process of calculating buildings from plastic rods is completely similar to calculations with steel ones, the only difference is the use of a correspondence table.

How composite reinforcement is made

All composite reinforcement is produced in the form of rods with a thickness of 4 to 32 millimeters. Such building materials can be sold both in the form of rods and in bays, more than 100 meters long.

There are two main types of plastic reinforcing rods:

Periodic, which is obtained by using spiral wrapping;
Smooth, sprinkled with quartz sand to improve grip.

Connection technique

One of the additional advantages of composite building materials is the absence of the need for welding. All rods are formed into a single frame using binding technology.

Often in construction practice, a special knitting wire is used, less often plastic ties.

There are the following ways to use the binding wire:

Using a special automatic pistol;
The use of a construction hook for knitting;
The use of a mechanized construction crochet hook.

The last two options are most often used in construction. This is due to their availability, because not everyone can afford to purchase a special automatic gun for a bundle.

Connection with plastic ties.

Plastic reinforcement diameter

Due to certain design features, fiberglass reinforcement has several parameters that characterize its diameter:

The size of the outer diameter of the composite rod is determined according to the location of the ribs protruding along the profile;
The inner diameter refers specifically to the rod itself;
The nominal diameter refers to the numerical designation of a particular profile.

All these parameters do not match. The nominal diameter is smaller than the outer diameter measured by the raised ribs. Pay special attention to these parameters. This will help to avoid buying smaller than necessary reinforcing rods.

There are some nuances in determining these dimensions of fiberglass reinforcement. The outer diameter of the product is determined in the same way as for steel. As for the inner diameter, it is more difficult to determine it because of the not perfectly round section of the rod.

Despite the fact that composite reinforcement is positioned on the market as the latest and high-tech material, the first experiences of its use have been known since the 70s of the last century. For various reasons, this type of material was not widely used in the USSR, although it was used quite actively abroad. Therefore, for Russia, this is a fairly new material. We will study the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the operational characteristics of this type of reinforcement, based on actual performance. To begin with, let's take a closer look at what composite reinforcement is, it is also plastic reinforcement and it is also polymer reinforcement.

What is composite reinforcement

This is reinforcement, the material of which is rods made of glass or basalt fibers impregnated with a polymer-based binder. There are also options for the manufacture of products from carbon and aramid fibers. According to the material used in the manufacture, such reinforcing bars are called glass, basalt or carbon fiber. Outwardly, it is quite easy to determine the material of manufacture: fiberglass reinforcement is light with a yellowish tint, basalt and carbon fiber rods are black. Like metal reinforcement, composite rods have a periodic section to ensure the required operating modes as part of a reinforced concrete structure.

Composite rebar

Some manufacturers, in order to visually distinguish rebar of different diameters and to achieve an attractive appearance, introduce colored pigments into the composition of the raw material.

Some manufacturers indicate that colored rods have improved technical characteristics. This is not true. Pigments, except for the decorative effect, in no way affect the quality or performance of the reinforcement.

Types of composite reinforcement

Secloplastic (ASP) - is made by mixing fiberglass with thermosetting resins, which act as a binder. A distinctive feature of this type is high strength with low weight;
Basalt-plastic (ABP) - in it basalt fiber serves as a base, organic resins serve as a binder. The advantage of the type is high resistance to aggressive chemical environments: alkalis, acids, gases and salts;
Carbon fiber (AUP) - consisting of hydrocarbon fibers and, due to the high cost, has not received wide demand;

Combined (ACC) - consists of both fiberglass and basalt fibers.

Polymer reinforcement

The composition of the composite reinforcement as a binder includes various polymers. Therefore, composite rebar is also called polymer rebar or polymer composite rebar. Since the composite material is the carrier and the polymer serves only to connect the composite fibers, the name "composite reinforcement" has become more widespread.

plastic fittings

English-speaking builders designate composite reinforcement as FRP rebar - from English. Fiber-reinforced plastic rebar. Hence the designation of composite reinforcement as plastic. Sometimes confusion arises due to the fact that fiberglass reinforcement is called plastic and vice versa. In fact, the phrase "plastic reinforcement" means the same as "composite reinforcement".

Advantages of composite reinforcement

Composite reinforcement is rapidly conquering the construction market, due to its outstanding characteristics, and is replacing the usual metal reinforcement. The main advantages of composite reinforcement:

Corrosion resistance, resistance to moisture and aggressive liquids significantly increases the durability of structures.
Significant specific strength (high tensile strength in relation to the density of the material), exceeds the performance of class A III steel reinforcement by 10-15 times.
Low thermal conductivity. This property makes it possible to avoid the appearance of cold bridges in the structure array.
Dielectricity increases the electrical safety of the premises and eliminates interference with the passage of radio waves.
Relatively low cost.
Ease of transport due to low weight. Composite rebar of small diameters can be transported in coils.

The bay of composite reinforcement fits easily into the trunk of a car

Disadvantages of composite reinforcement.

Like any building material, along with undeniable advantages, composite reinforcement is not without some disadvantages that must be taken into account when designing reinforced concrete structures. The disadvantages of composite reinforcement include:

Low modulus of elasticity of the material. This parameter is 4 times less compared to steel, which negatively affects tensile strength during the operation of composite reinforcement.
Brittleness and non-plasticity. Changing the shape of the rod is impossible without heating, which creates difficulties in the manufacture of mounting loops and embedded parts.
Low resistance to high temperatures. Unlike steel, the composite material loses its strength properties already at temperatures of the order of 150-300 degrees, depending on the type of fibers used in the production (fiberglass or basalt plastic).

Scope of composite reinforcement

Due to its operational characteristics, composite reinforcement can be used in a wide range of building structures and infrastructure facilities, as well as in the production of repair work. This material is used:

in structures exposed to an aggressive environment: building foundations, structural elements of buildings in the chemical and food industries, agricultural facilities;
to strengthen the foundations under building structures for various purposes;
in low-rise private housing construction;
in road construction: as reinforcement of the roadway, in the construction and strengthening of slopes of embankments, for strengthening mixed road elements (for example, asphalt concrete - rails), reinforcement of the carriageway of superstructures (bridges);

when repairing reinforced concrete structures in case of impossibility of constructing a mortar layer of considerable thickness;
for the manufacture of cross-links in buildings with walls erected from various types of materials (gas silicate blocks + brick, brick + concrete, etc.);
for layered masonry of small-piece elements with flexible connections;

structures of residential, civil and industrial buildings, the manufacture of which does not require prestressing of reinforcement;
in structural elements, during the operation of which electrochemical corrosion is possible under the influence of stray currents;
in mine workings to strengthen the soil during tunneling.

The use of composite reinforcement for layered laying of small-piece elements. Due to its corrosion resistance, composite reinforcement is not subject to the aggressive action of the environment at the layer boundary. The metal in this case can rust.

Technology for the production of composite reinforcement

Due to the similarity of the manufacturing process of the most popular types of composite reinforcement - glass- and basalt-plastic, let's consider, for example, the technology for the production of fiberglass reinforcing bars. The technological process is extremely automated, proceeds with minimal human participation and includes the following steps:

Preparation of raw materials. At this stage, aluminoborosilicate glass is melted in furnaces to the state of a viscous mass, which is then drawn into threads with a thickness of about 10-20 microns. The resulting threads, pre-treated with an oil-based composition, are collected in a thicker bundle, called roving.
With the help of a creel, a special mechanism that allows up to 60 roving threads to be fed simultaneously, the glass fibers are fed into the tension mechanism.

After equalizing the voltage, the threads, arranged in a certain order, are subjected to heat treatment with hot air to remove moisture, oil and various types of contaminants.
The cleaned and assembled roving is immersed in a bath with binder resins heated to a liquid state for thorough impregnation.
The impregnated threads are sent to a spinneret - a device, by stretching through which a rod of the desired diameter is obtained. In the case of manufacturing reinforcement with a spiral winding, the rod is wrapped in parallel with a roving thread of a given thickness.
The formed rod enters the tunnel oven for the polymerization of the binder composition.
Cooling of the resulting fittings with running water.
Depending on the diameter of the products obtained, they are either wound on special equipment into coils, or cut into whips of a given length.

creel - a device for feeding fibers for joining into one thread

Comparison of technical characteristics of composite and traditional steel reinforcement

Characteristic	Steel reinforcement class AIII	Composite rebar
Density, kg/cu.m.	7850	1900
Relative extension, %	14	2,2
Tensile strength, MPa	390	1100
Modulus of elasticity, MPa	200000	41000
Produced diameter, mm	6 — 80	4 - 24 - domestic 6 - 40 - imported
Equal-strength replacement at a load of 25000 kg/sq.m	Diameter 8 A III, cell 140x140 mm., Weight 5.5 kg/sq.m.	Diameter 8 mm, cell 230x230 mm., Weight 0.61 kg/sq.m.
Replacement of reinforcement diameter with equal strength characteristics, mm.
Produced length, m.	6 — 12	6 – 12 or on request

Features of reinforcement of structures with composite reinforcement

For a master who has experience working with conventional reinforcement, reinforcement with composite materials will not cause any difficulties. As with steel bars, the diameter of the rods and the size of the cells when laying composite reinforcement is determined by the calculation based on the required bearing capacity of the structure. Reinforcing bars in the case of pouring monolithic structures are placed in the formwork with a certain pitch and are tied together with knitting wire or conventional electrical plastic clamps of the required length. The latter option is possible due to the small mass of reinforcement bars.

Fastening the reinforcing mesh with clamps

It should be noted that when using knitting wire for quick fastening, special devices will be needed - a crochet hook or an automatic knitting machine. When using plastic clamps, fastening is done manually.

To connect composite reinforcement, special reinforcing clips are convenient to use, which are also made of plastic.

Connection with reinforcing clips.

Reinforcing clips.

Welding of composite reinforcement is impossible due to the dielectric properties of the material; meshes and frames are assembled in the same way.

Composite reinforcement is calculated according to the same principles as for metal reinforcement. With the only exception that the metal bars obtained during the calculation are replaced with bars of composite reinforcement of a different diameter with similar strength characteristics. You can read more about the calculation of reinforcement for the foundation in the article:.

To distance the nets when pouring floors, special devices are produced that can be purchased at any construction market or building materials store. They are also called fasteners or clamps for fittings. You can read more about the different types of retainers and their features in a special article:.

Reinforcement clamps allow you to set the desired distance between reinforcement meshes, walls and foundation base

The bending of the bars of such reinforcement under the conditions of the construction site is impossible - the rod will either break under load or return to its original state after the removal of the bending force. If it is necessary to obtain a curved element, it must be ordered from the manufacturer according to your drawings, since it is possible to give any shape to the rod only at the stage of its manufacture.

Curved composite reinforcement is obtained during its production.

Selection and cost of composite reinforcement

There are two types of rebar on the market: smooth and periodic section. At the same time, smooth reinforcement has a coating containing sand for better adhesion to concrete. The risk of using a smooth bar is that in the case of poor-quality manufacturing, the sand coating layer can peel off and the effectiveness of such reinforcement of the structure will be reduced to almost zero. It should also be taken into account that reinforcement with a periodic section perceives the load and works as part of a structure better than smooth, therefore, for use in critical load-bearing elements of a building, it is advisable to opt for this particular type.

The cost of one linear meter of reinforcement depends on the diameter. On average, composite reinforcement with a diameter of 4 mm costs 5-10 rubles per linear meter (rm);

6 mm. - 10-15 rubles per linear meter;

8 mm. - 15-20 rubles per linear meter;

10 mm. - 20-25 rubles per r.m.

In addition, the cost of reinforcing bars made of composite materials directly depends on the manufacturer and location of production. For example, the cost of a running meter of rebar of the same section from the Obninsk plant and a manufacturer from Nizhny Novgorod differs by more than a ruble, while products from foreign manufacturers will be even more expensive. At first glance, a small difference in price when calculating the required volumes of material may not be so imperceptible, because to reinforce a 10 x 10 m site with one reinforcing mesh with a cell of 20 x 20 cm, 1000 meters of reinforcement will be needed. When purchasing reinforcing material for a fairly large object, the difference in amount can become quite impressive.

The use of composite reinforcement in construction allows you to effectively save money, not only due to the low cost compared to steel bars. Due to its low weight, it significantly reduces the weight of the structure, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the overall dimensions of foundations and other load-bearing elements, while saving concrete costs.

Despite the fact that there are still disputes about replacing composite reinforcement with steel, the majority chooses composite reinforcement. And for good reason, because it has undeniable advantages. Ease of installation and transportation, corrosion resistance and low thermal conductivity save almost 60% of the cost when replacing metal reinforcement with a composite one. Reinforcement composite reinforcement produced in accordance with the normative and technical documentation.

Production of composite reinforcement "Armplast"

The Armplast plant independently produces non-metallic composite polymer reinforcement. We create it in several versions and several types - fiberglass, basalt-plastic and glass-basalt.

Fiberglass reinforcement is made from glass roving and consists of a fiberglass rod with a basalt reinforcing thread as a periodic profile.

Composite and basalt rebar are made from basalt roving. Composite fiberglass reinforcement, in turn, is divided into classic fiberglass reinforcement with a periodic profile, fiberglass reinforcement with a sand coating and with a sandy coating and a periodic profile. In these types of composite reinforcement, sand dressing and a periodic profile are used for greater adhesion to concrete. Diameters above 12 mm are produced in rods, the length agreed with the customer, and diameters less than 12 mm are produced in coils.

Which appeared on the construction market relatively recently, has both advantages and disadvantages, which the consumer must be aware of. Despite the assurances of manufacturers that these products are a full-fledged replacement for metal fittings, their use can not be considered justified in all situations.

What is fiberglass reinforcement

The so-called composite reinforcement is a fiberglass rod around which a carbon fiber thread is wound, which serves not only to reinforce the structure of such a product, but also to ensure its reliable adhesion to the concrete solution. This type of reinforcement has both pros and cons, and its use should be approached very carefully.

Plastic clamps serve as elements for fixing carbon-fiber reinforcing bars to each other. It is convenient that the use of welding is not required to connect the elements of such fittings, which is undoubtedly a big plus.

Assessing the feasibility of using fiberglass reinforcement, it is necessary to consider all the pros and cons of its use in individual situations. This approach will ensure the high efficiency of this material as a means of strengthening building structures for various purposes.

If you do not take into account the characteristics of fiberglass reinforcement and do not compare them with the parameters of similar products made of metal, you can cause serious damage to the future building structure or finishing elements. That is why, before proceeding with the selection of elements for reinforcing concrete structures, it is necessary to understand in which cases the use of certain products is more appropriate.

Main advantages

Among the advantages that distinguish carbon fiber reinforcement, it is worth highlighting the following.

An important advantage of fiberglass reinforcement is its low specific gravity, which makes it possible to use it for reinforcing lightweight structures made of cellular concrete and some other building materials. This allows you to significantly reduce the weight of structures that are reinforced with it. Meanwhile, the weight of a conventional concrete structure when using fiberglass reinforcement will decrease slightly, since the building material itself has an impressive mass.
Low thermal conductivity is also one of the advantages of fiberglass reinforcement. When such reinforcement is used in concrete structures, cold bridges are not formed (which cannot be said about metal reinforcing elements), which significantly improves their thermal insulation parameters.
The high flexibility of fiberglass reinforcement allows it to be shipped to the customer in coils, rather than cut into individual bars. Thanks to the compact form of packaging, it is much easier to transport such fittings, for which you can use the trunk of any car, and this greatly reduces the cost of delivering the material to the construction site. The use of reinforcing elements, which are shipped not in cut bars, but in coils, also makes it possible to reduce material costs by reducing the number of overlaps. This positively affects both the strength characteristics of the future concrete structure and its cost, which is especially important when performing construction work.
Such an advantage of fiberglass reinforcement as its durability inside a concrete structure is considered quite controversial. Reinforcement made of metal, being in an isolated state, is also not exposed to the negative influence of external factors, which ensures the durability of its use.
CFRP reinforcement is a dielectric material, which is an advantage of products made from this material. Electrically conductive metal reinforcement is more susceptible to corrosion, which negatively affects its durability.
Compared to metal reinforcing elements, fiberglass products are not exposed to chemically active environments. This advantage of fiberglass reinforcement is especially important in cases of construction of buildings in winter, when various salt solutions are added to the concrete, which accelerate the solidification process.
Being a dielectric, carbon fiber fittings do not create radio interference inside the building, unlike metal bars. This advantage is important when there are many reinforcing elements in the concrete structure. Otherwise, the use of composite reinforcement will not become a minus, but it will not be so relevant.

Fiberglass reinforcement also has disadvantages, which potential consumers should also be aware of.

Main disadvantages

The disadvantages of fiberglass reinforcement are associated with its following characteristics.

The disadvantages of fiberglass reinforcement include, in particular, the fact that it does not withstand exposure to high temperatures. At the same time, it is difficult to imagine a situation where a reinforcing cage inside concrete can be heated to a temperature of 200 degrees.
A rather high cost is a conditional disadvantage, given the fact that fiberglass reinforcement of a smaller diameter can be used to reinforce concrete structures in comparison with metal products.
CFRP reinforcement does not bend well. This disadvantage limits its use in the creation of reinforcing frames for concrete structures. Meanwhile, it is possible to make bent sections of the reinforcing cage from steel elements, and then build them up using fiberglass rods.
Reinforcement made of fiberglass does not withstand fracture loads, which is very critical for concrete structures. Accordingly, their reinforcing frame must successfully withstand such loads, which reinforcement made of composite materials cannot boast of.
Unlike a metal reinforcing cage, fiberglass products have less rigidity. Because of this drawback, they do not tolerate vibration loads that occur when they are poured using a car mixer. When using this technique, the reinforcing cage is subjected to significant mechanical loads, which can cause its breakage and violation of the spatial position of its elements, therefore, rather high requirements are imposed on the rigidity of such concrete structures.

Considering the advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass reinforcement, it is difficult to say how much better or worse it is made of metal. In any case, the choice of this material should be approached very reasonably, using it to solve the problems for which it is really intended.

Fields of application of fiberglass reinforcement

Reinforcement made of composite materials, the laying rules of which are easy to learn from the corresponding videos, are used in both capital and private construction. Since capital construction is carried out by qualified specialists who are well acquainted with the nuances and disadvantages of using certain building materials, we will dwell on the features of using such material in the construction of private low-rise buildings.

Reinforcement made of composite materials is successfully used to strengthen the foundation structures of the following types: tape, the height of which is greater than the depth of soil freezing, and slab. The use of carbon fiber reinforcement to strengthen foundations is only advisable when the structure is being built on good soil, where concrete foundations will not be subjected to fracture loads that fiberglass elements may simply not withstand.
With the help of fiberglass reinforcement, walls are strengthened, the laying of which is made of brick, gas silicate and other blocks. It should be noted that as a connecting element of walls, composite reinforcement is very popular among private developers, who use it not only to strengthen the masonry of load-bearing structures, but also to ensure their connection with facing partitions.
This material is also actively used for bonding elements of multilayer panels. The structure of the latter includes a layer of insulation and concrete elements, which are interconnected using fiberglass reinforcement.
Due to the fact that the reinforcement of this type is free from such a disadvantage as susceptibility to corrosion, it is often used to strengthen various hydraulic structures (for example, dams and basins).
In cases where it is necessary to effectively increase the rigidity of glued wooden beams, they are also reinforced with fiberglass reinforcement.
This material is also used in road construction: it is used to strengthen the layer of asphalt pavement, which is subjected to increased loads during its operation.

Summarizing all of the above, it should be noted that the use of fiberglass reinforcement can be quite effective, given its shortcomings and the limitations associated with them, which are specified by the manufacturer.

Can fiberglass reinforcement replace metal analogues

Despite the fact that reinforcement made from composite materials is a fairly new material in the construction market, you can already find many recommendations (and even videos) on its use. Considering these recommendations, we can conclude that it is best to use fiberglass reinforcement to strengthen walls erected from bricks and building blocks, as well as to connect load-bearing walls with interior partitions.