Conclusion

What's particularly important is that BFM performs better than conventional reinforced concrete, either with respect to volume-type cracking such as that generated by stress diffusion (prestress diffusion, for example), or with respect to highly localized cracking such as that produced by concentrated forces (spalling is a good example of this type of cracking), or finally with respect to cracking generated by thermal or hydric gradients.

With regard to compound bending and shear force problems, metal fibers are as mechanically efficient as reinforced concrete, provided that the tensile stresses generated by the loads remain below approx. 5 MPa, and that the height, or thickness, of the structure remains below approx. 50 cm.

When these conditions are met, the cracks relating to the in-service behavior of structures containing BFM are finer...