Developments in fibre reinforced concrete in tunnelling

This paper will provide an overview of the state of the art of the use of fibre reinforced concrete in tunnelling. The major applications for fibres are for the reinforcement of sprayed concrete and pre-cast concrete segmental linings, but fibre reinforcement is also increasingly used for other applications such as trackbed/trackslab and minor precast concrete elements such as cable ducts, drip shields, and drainage elements. As the technology has matured, a wide variety of fibre types, made from different materials, has emerged. Standards have been developed for the manufacture, testing and application of all these fibre types. Moreover, design guidelines and codes have been published and new design methods are still being developed. The International Tunnelling Association has published several guidance documents in this field. Last but not least, FRC has an important role to play in reducing the carbon footprint of tunnelling projects.