Concrete has long been the backbone of modern infrastructure, valued for its strength, affordability, and availability. Yet, it has one major flaw: brittleness. Traditional concrete cracks under stress and fails to absorb significant strain, which limits its durability in high-impact or dynamic environments. Enter flexible concrete, also known as bendable or fiber-reinforced concrete a game-changer for the construction industry.
Flexible concrete is engineered with enhanced ductility and strain capacity, allowing it to bend under pressure rather than break. It achieves this flexibility through the incorporation of fibers, typically polymeric or metallic, that bridge cracks and distribute loads more effectively than traditional concrete (Qingguo, 2004; Qingguo, 2005; Gadhiya et al., 2015; Solanki et al., 2022). This property addresses one of the core limitations of conventional concrete its inability to withstand tensile forces and dynamic stresses (Qingguo, 2005; Solanki et al., 2022; Al‐Qadi et al., 1994).
The push for more resilient and adaptable construction materials has positioned flexible concrete as a prime candidate for a variety of demanding applications. Its use is particularly promising in pavement and road engineering, where surfaces must endure heavy traffic loads, vibrations, and environmental wear and tear. Studies have shown that flexible concrete enhances pavement performance by improving resistance to compressive and tensile stresses, fatigue, shear forces, and vibrations (Pipilikaki et al., 2018; Qingguo, 2004).
One innovative application is semi-flexible pavements, which combine the ductility of bituminous materials with the strength of cementitious components. These are created by filling porous asphalt skeletons with specially designed cementitious grouts (Setyawan, 2013). The result is a hybrid pavement that offers both strength and flexibility. Research has also explored the use of steel fiber-reinforced rubberized concrete as an alternative for flexible pavement layers, showing enhanced toughness and performance (Alsaif et al., 2018).
Flexible concrete also presents economic advantages in road construction. For example, integrating a concrete layer between the gravel frost blanket and bituminous roadbase can lead to thinner overall pavement designs, reducing costs while maintaining structural integrity (Kiekenap, 1972). Furthermore, flexible aggregate concrete has demonstrated improved seismic performance, making it suitable for earthquake-prone regions (Wen-bi, 2011).
Beyond pavements, flexible concrete has found its way into specialized applications, including bridge deck overlays. Compared to hot-mix asphalt, flexible concrete overlays offer better strength, increased durability, and reduced chloride penetration an important factor in preventing corrosion in reinforced concrete structures (Al‐Qadi et al., 1994). It has also shown potential in seismic applications, where its ability to absorb and dissipate energy helps mitigate structural damage (Wen-bi, 2011). In structural engineering, researchers are testing compressed steel-reinforced flexible concrete elements to understand their stress-strain behaviors and resistance under loading (Storozhenko et al., 2018).
As urban infrastructure faces increasing pressure from climate extremes, population growth, and traffic density, the need for more durable and adaptable materials is evident. Flexible concrete offers a compelling solution, blending the strength of traditional concrete with the adaptability of modern composites. As research continues, this advanced material could redefine the standards of infrastructure resilience and longevity.
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