A review of microscopic characterization and related properties of fiber-incorporated cement-based materials

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has apparent benefits over traditional cementitious composites and possesses a great prospect in civil engineering projects. Previous studies reported that fiber admixtures could effectively enhance the mechanical properties, impermeability, and durability of cementitious composites. Nevertheless, the trade-off of the reinforcing efficiency, cost, and properties of the cementitious composites in different aspects has been a challenge in the application of FRC to practical engineering. This article summarizes a review concerning the recent development of FRC enhanced by different fibers and mainly focused on the fiber-reinforcing effects on the microstructure and the corresponding properties of cementitious composites. The addition of a small amount of fiber material has a significant change in the microstructure and related properties of cement-based materials, but the presence of fibers also causes structural damage and other problems. The direction of future development of some cutting-edge technologies such as coating and hybridization methods on fiber modification was concluded to assist further research in FRC. This review will further enhance the understanding of fiber for reinforcing cementitious composites.