Low permeability under loading: rapid increase in the permeability occurred for plain concrete under stress; increase remained small for the FRC. Higher Corrosion Resistance of rebars: Reasons:
- Smaller crack widths in FRC impede the conductive chloride ions to come into direct contact with the steel rebar
- Steel fibers close to the rebar surface provide a source of passive confinement, which hinders the development of expansive corrosion products
- Oxygen required for cathode reaction is consumed by the corrosion of steel fibers placed near the concrete surface