ICI BULLETIN 03/02

ICI-TC / FRC 01-02

I C I Report of Technical Committee

Indian Concrete Institute

ICI Recommendation on
SPECIFICATIONS FOR
REFERENCE CONCRETES
TO BE USED FOR
EVALUATING FIBRES FOR
CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT

RECOMMENDATION
Front Inner
ICI Recommendation on
SPECIFICATIONS FOR
REFERENCE CONCRETES
TO BE USED FOR
EVALUATING FIBRES FOR
CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT

Indian Concrete Institute

ICI Technical Committee on Fibre Reinforced Concrete
ICI-TC / 01

I C I

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The Recommendation was drafted by ICI Technical Committee on Fibre Reinforced Concrete
(ICI-TC / 01)

Indian Concrete Institute (ICI)

Although the Indian Concrete Institute does its best to ensure that the information given is accurate,
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Email: ici4@airtelmail.in
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A Recommendation of the ICI Technical Committee on Fibre Reinforced Concrete

First Edition - 2017
INDIAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE
Technical Board Members
Er. Jose Kurian Er. A K Jain
Prof. S Saraswati Prof. Gajanan Sabnis
Er. V R Kulkarni Er. Sanjay Pant

Technical Committee (ICI-TC / 01) Members

Chairman - Er. L K Jain
Vice-Chairman - Prof. Ravindra Gettu

Members
Dr. B H Bharatkumar
Er. G Sivakumar
Er. Ganesh Chaudhari
Dr. K Balasubramaniam
Er. K R S Narayan
Dr. Manu Santhanam
Dr. N P Rajamane
Er. Navneet Narayan
Prof. Nemkumar Banthia
Er. R M Telang
Dr. R Nagendra
Er. Rajiv Gauri
Er. Rakesh Gupta
Er. S Ramakrishnan
Ms. Sujatha Jose
Ms. Sunitha K Nayar
Prof. V Ramakrishnan
Er. V Senthil Kumar
 A Recommendation of ICI Technical Committee on Fibre Reinforced Concrete

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Members III
Specifications for Reference Concretes to be Used for Evaluating 1-3
Fibres for Concrete Reinforcement
(A Recommendation of ICI Technical Committee on Fibre Reinforced Concrete)

1.0 Foreword 1
1 Scope 1
2 References 1
2.1 Normative References 1
2.2 Informative References 1
3 Principle 1
4 Equipment 2
4.1 Concrete Mixer 2
4.2 Moulds 2
4.3 Vibrating Table 2
5 Materials 2
5.1 Aggregates 2
5.2 Mixing Water 2
5.3 Cement 2
5.4 Admixtures 2
5.5 Fibres 2
6 Reference Concrete Composition and Properties 2
6.1 General 2
6.2 Parameters of Reference Concrete 2
6.3 Fibre content 2
6.4 Workability (Consistency) 2
6.5 Specimen Preparation 3
6.6 Concrete Curing and Storage 3
7 Compressive Strength Evaluation 3
8 Flexural Strength Evaluation 3
9 Report 3
1 w ICI-TC / 01-02
Specifications for Reference Concretes
to be Used for Evaluating Fibres for
Concrete Reinforcement
(A Recommendation of ICI Technical Committee on Fibre Reinforced Concrete)
1.0 Foreword
For drafting this document, ISO 13270 & EN 14845-1 stand-
ards have been used as the bases.
1 Scope
These guidelines specify the composition and characteristics
of reference concretes used to evaluate the performance of
fibres in concrete.
1.1 The reference concretes considered are of three types:
(i) Mandatory reference concrete as specified in Table 1.
(ii) Optional reference concrete as specified in Table 1.
(iii) Specified reference concrete by the purchaser or user of
the fibre.
1.2 The fibre manufacturer, purchaser or user can have the fi-
bres tested with mandatory and optional reference concretes.
The end users may additionally need to satisfy themselves
about the effectiveness of the fibre in their (own and/or) spec-
ified reference concrete.
1.3 Along with references to documents, optional references
have been indicated within brackets for guidance.
2 References
2.1 Normative References
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the
application of this guideline document. For the references, the
latest edition of the document (including any amendments)
applies.
ICI-TC FRC 01.1, Test method for the flexural strength and
toughness parameters of fibre reinforced concrete
IS 383:2016, Specification for coarse and fine aggregates from
natural sources for concrete
IS 456:2000, Code of practice for plain and reinforced concrete
IS 1199:1959, Method of sampling and analysis of concrete
IS 2386 Part 1:1963, Method of test for aggregates for con-
crete: Part 1: Particle size and shape
IS 9103:1999, Specification for admixtures for concrete
IS 10086:1982, Specifications for moulds for use in tests of
cement and concrete
IS 269:2015, Specification for grade ordinary Portland cement
ICI-TC / 01-02
2.2 Informative References
The following documents may be referred to by user for under-
standing international and national practices.
ICI-TC FRC 01.3, Definitions, specifications and conformity re-
quirements for steel fibres to be used as concrete reinforcement.
ICI-TC FRC 01.4, Definitions, specifications and conformity
requirements for polymeric fibres to be used as concrete re-
inforcement.
ISO 1920-2:2005, Testing of concrete - Part 2: Properties of
fresh concrete
ISO 6274:1982, Concrete - Sieve analysis of aggregate
ISO 12439:2010, Mixing water for concrete
ASTM C1609 M-10, Standard test method for flexural per-
formance of fiber reinforced concrete (using beam with third
point loading)
EN 197-1:2011, Cement - Part 1: Composition, specifications
and conformity criteria for common cements
EN 206-1:2013, Concrete - Part 1: Specification, performance,
production and conformity
EN 933-2:2012, Tests for geometrical properties of aggregates
- Part 2: Determination of particle size distribution - Test sieves,
nominal size of apertures
EN 1008:2002, Mixing water for concrete - Specification for
sampling, testing and assessing the suitability of water, includ-
ing water recovered from processes in the concrete industry,
as mixing water for concrete
EN 1766:2000, Products and systems for the protection and
repair of concrete structures - Test methods - Reference con-
cretes for testing
EN 12350-1:2009, Testing of fresh concrete - Part 1: Sampling
EN 14845-1:2007, Test methods for fibres in concrete - Part 1:
Reference concretes
EN 14845-2:2006, Test methods for fibres in concrete - Part 2:
Effect on strength of concrete
EN 14889-1:2006, Fibres for concrete - Part 1: Steel fibres -
Definitions, specifications and conformity
EN 14889-2:2006, Fibres for concrete - Part 2: Polymer fibres
- Definitions, specifications and conformity
3 Principle
3.1 This document prescribes the constituents and propor-
 Specifications for Reference Concretes to be Used for Evaluating Fibres for Concrete Reinforcement w 2
tions for plain reference concretes to be used to evaluate the
performance of fibres in the concrete under standard labora-
tory conditions.
3.2 The reference concrete shall be designed to meet a pre-
scribed flexural strength, as defined in Table 1.
3.3 Tests using reference concretes are performed as com-
parative tests. That is, the performance of fibres (effect on
strength and consistency) is determined by comparing the
properties obtained with the reference concrete to which fibres
are added with those of the same reference concrete without
the addition of fibres.
4 Equipment
Reference concretes shall be made using the equipment de-
scribed in the following.
4.1 Concrete Mixer: A forced action concrete pan-mixer shall
be used to mix the concrete.
4.2 Moulds: Cube and beam moulds for producing hardened
concrete specimens, of non absorbent and rigid material,
such as steel, not attacked by cement paste; Refer IS 10086.
4.3 Vibrating Table: A high frequency vibrating table suitable
for compaction of the concrete in the moulds for testing shall
be used.
5 Materials
Following specifications apply to mandatory and optional ref-
erence mixes.
5.1 Aggregates
5.1.1 Coarse aggregates shall be crushed stone, with low wa-
ter absorption (less than 2%, by mass). The coarse aggregate
should have elongation and flakiness indices together not
more than 30%. As far as possible aggregates should be from
hard rocks, such as basalt or granite.
5.1.2 Fine aggregate shall be the sand conforming to Zone II
as defined in IS 383, with a maximum of 3% of the material, by
mass, passing through the 75 micron sieve.
5.1.3 The aggregate grading, measured according to IS 2386-
1 (ISO 6274), shall conform to IS 383 (EN 1766:2000 Annex A).
5.2 Mixing Water: Water for mixing in concrete and for curing
shall confirm to the requirements of IS 456 Clause 5.4 (ISO
12439).
5.3 Cement: Ordinary portland cement of 53 grade according
to IS 269 shall be used.
5.4 Admixtures: A plasticizer or superplasticizer, as chemi-
Table 1 - Parameters of Reference Concrete
Average flexural strength Nominal maximum size of
Reference concrete type
in MPa
1. Mandatory 3.8 to 4.6
2. Optional 5.0 to 5.8
3. Specified Average flexural strength and other limiting parameters or concrete mix proportions specified by the purchaser /user.
cal admixture, complying to IS 9103 (EN 934-2) may be used
to control the workability. If an admixture is used, its generic
name and dosage must be mentioned with all the results.
5.5 Fibres: The fibres being used should be described, along
with the type and properties.
6 Reference Concrete Composition and Properties
6.1 General: This document specifies three types of reference
concretes (mandatory, optional and specified), defined by the
flexural tensile strength, maximum size of the aggregate and
maximum cement content. The reference concrete(s) can be
selected according to the type of product or system in which
the fibre is to be incorporated. However, all fibre manufactur-
ers shall declare the performance of their product, using the
test method described in ICI-TC FRC 01.1 in the mandatory
reference concrete mix (see 6.2).
6.1.1 Proportions of the reference concrete shall be adjusted
with the limits prescribed in 6.2 to achieve an average flexural
strength within the range defined in Table 1. The average flex-
ural strength shall be tested as per ICI-TC FRC 01.1.
6.2 Parameters of Reference Concrete: The average flexural
strength, the maximum cement and the maximum water ce-
ment ratio shall be as given in Table 1 for the reference con-
cretes without fibres.
6.3 Fibre content: Where the performance of a particular fibre
is being evaluated by incorporating it in a reference concrete,
the quantity of fibres added shall be that required to achieve
the level of performance specified for that type of fibre.
6.4 Workability (Consistency): The workability of the refer-
ence concrete, without fibres, shall be 100 mm ± 20 mm. The
concrete shall be free from bleeding or segregation.
6.4.1 The time delay from the time of mixing to the time of
workability measurement shall be similar, both for concrete
with and without fibres, and it shall be done within 15 minutes.
For the specified reference concrete, a longer delay may be
stipulated by the purchaser or user of fibres.
6.5 Specimen Preparation
The preparation of the reference concrete shall be done as
follows:
a) Prepare a concrete batch, the volume of which shall be of
50% to 90% of the mixer capacity
b) Pour all (air-) dried aggregates into the mixer, add half of
the batch water and mix for a minute
c) While continuing the mixing, add the cement and the other
half of the batch water during the next minute of mixing.
Maximum water cement
Maximum cement content
aggregate ratio
20 mm 400 kg/m³ 0.50
20 mm 450 kg/m³ 0.40
3 w ICI-TC / 01-02
d) After adding the admixture (if applicable) mix for a mini-
mum 2 minutes.
e) The fibres shall be added at the appropriate stage in ac-
cordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Generally, fibres can be added after the aggregates have
been added to the mixer. The mixing time after adding all
the ingredients shall not be more than 3 minutes.
6.5.1 Care shall be taken to ensure that the fibres are evenly
distributed throughout the mix.
6.5.2 Test specimens shall be made according to the relevant
test method of ICI-TC FRC 01.1 for the property under con-
sideration.
6.6 Concrete Curing and Storage
The concrete specimens shall be cured in the moulds for 24 h
after casting at 27 (±2)°C, either under polyethylene sheeting
or at not less than 95% relative humidity, then demoulded and
cured for 27 days under moist condition of not less than 95%
relative humidity or under water at 27 (±3)°C. After the curing
period, the specimens shall be tested.
7 Compressive Strength Evaluation
7.1 Compressive strength shall be determined using 150 mm
×150 mm ×150 mm cubes at the age of 28 days, for both the
concrete mixes without and with fibres.
7.2 If the compressive strength of the concrete with fibres is
found to be significantly less (i.e., by more than 5%) than that
of the concrete without fibres, the reference concrete shall be
checked for cohesiveness, air entrainment and voids, and the
reference mix could be corrected, if necessary.
8 Flexural Strength Evaluation
8.1 Six prismatic “150 mm × 150 mm × 550” mm (or longer)
specimens, made from a reference concrete without incorpo-
rating fibres shall be tested for flexural strength at 28 days un-
der third-point loading (at one third span) on a 450 mm span
following the procedure of ICI-TC FRC 01.1, for reporting the
average flexural strength.
9 Report
The following information shall be recorded for each set of ref-
erence concrete specimens:
a. Origin and particle size distribution of coarse and fine ag-
gregates, brand and type of cement and admixtures used
b. Mix composition including dry aggregates and admixtures
in kg/m³ and details of mixing procedure
c. Fibre type (including, length, diameter and tensile strength)
described according to this standard /norm/guide
d. Workability and compressive strength of the plain and fibre
concretes
e. Date and time of casting and testing of specimens
f. Slump in mm, Vebe time in seconds, or other measure of
workability or compactability
g. Flexural strength to the nearest 0.05 MPa (average and
individual values) for the plain concrete
h. Reference to this document
i. Any deviation from this document
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