ETUDE COMPARATIVE ENTRE BETON ORDINAIRE ET BETON FIBRE : REVIEW

Abstract

This Master’s thesis presents a comprehensive and critical comparative review between ordinary concrete (OC) and fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC), two fundamental materials in modern civil engineering. The main objective is to analyze the impact of incorporating various types of fibers on the physical, mechanical, and rheological properties of the cementitious matrix. Although ordinary concrete exhibits high compressive strength, its intrinsic limitations, such as low tensile strength and high brittleness prone to crack propagation, restrict its performance. In Algeria, the application of OC is strictly governed by national building codes including CBA 93, RPA 99 (Version 2003), and BAEL 91. The addition of fibers—whether metallic (steel, amorphous alloys), synthetic (polypropylene, PVA, carbon), or natural (sisal, jute)—represents a major advancement by acting as stress-transfer bridges within the material’s microstructure. Through a structured methodological approach analyzing 25 recent scientific papers (published in 2026 in top-tier international journals such as Elsevier and RILEM), this work demonstrates that carbon and steel fibers yield the most significant improvements in elastic modulus and tensile strength. Conversely, synthetic micro-fibers primarily optimize early-age crack control and post-cracking ductility. However, the inclusion of fibers systematically reduces fresh concrete workability, demanding the vital use of superplasticizers to achieve adequate compaction. Ultimately, this study provides clear technical and economic recommendations for the design of durable and seismic-resistant structures in Algeria.