INTEGRATED ADVANCEMENTS IN FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE: NANOTECHNOLOGY, SMART SYSTEMS, 3D PRINTING, AND SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.2026.5689Keywords:
Building Material, Civil Engineering, Construction, Fiber Reinforced Concrete, Sustainability in Structural performanceAbstract
The use of Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC), which is considered as a high-performance building material, presents advantages over traditional concrete including its enhanced mechanical strength, durability, and sustainability. However, numerous innovations related to fibers, nanomaterials, smart properties, and Additive Manufacturing (AM) are still dispersed throughout the literature. This review aims to provide an integrated and up-to-date synthesis of material innovations, performance outcomes, durability mechanisms, and sustainable applications of FRC. A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar, focusing primarily on peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025. Based on their content, the articles have been categorized according to their focus on fiber type, mechanical performance, durability behaviors, environmental assessments, nanotechnologies and 3D printing. The analysis indicates that optimized fiber incorporation (0.1–2% by volume) generally improves tensile strength, flexural strength, and service-life durability, depending on fiber type, dosage, and exposure conditions. Hybrid and nano-modified systems demonstrate enhanced crack control, bond performance, and impact resistance. Sustainable assessments indicate possible decreases in steel consumption and in total resources during the entire life cycle of structures made of FRC. In addition to these achievements, several open issues exist in terms of long-term durability information, life-cycle assessment standards and durable design rules. This review consolidates current knowledge and identifies priorities for future research toward reliable, large-scale implementation of advanced FRC systems.
References
[1] Abushanab, A., Alnahhal, W., Sohail, M.G., Alnuaimi, N., Kahraman, R. and Altayeh, N. “Mechanical and durability properties of ultra-high performance steel FRC made with discarded materials,” Journal of Building Engineering, 44, p. 103264, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103264.
[2] Lee, H., Choi, M.K. and Kim, B.-J. “Structural and functional properties of fiber reinforced concrete composites for construction applications,” Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 125, pp. 38–49, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.jiec.2023.05.019.
[3] Ahmad, J., González-Lezcano, R.A., Majdi, A., Ben Kahla, N., Deifalla, A.F. and El-Shorbagy, M.A. “Glass Fibers Reinforced Concrete: Overview on Mechanical, Durability and Microstructure Analysis,” Materials, 15(15), p. 5111, 2022. doi: 10.3390/ma15155111.
[4] Ahmad, J. and Zhou, Z. “Mechanical Properties of Natural as well as Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Concrete: A Review,” Construction and Building Materials, 333, p. 127353, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127353.
[5] Shafei, B., Kazemian, M., Dopko, M. and Najimi, M. “State-of-the-Art Review of Capabilities and Limitations of Polymer and Glass Fibers Used for Fiber-Reinforced Concrete,” Materials, 14(2), p. 409, 2021. doi: 10.3390/ma14020409.
[6] Vairagade, V.S. and Dhale, S.A. “Hybrid fibre reinforced concrete – A state of the art review,” Hybrid Advances, 3, p. 100035, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.hybadv.2023.100035.
[7] Fode, T.A., Chande Jande, Y.A. and Kivevele, T. “Physical, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete containing different waste synthetic fibers for green environment – A critical review,” Heliyon, 10(12), p. e32950, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32950.
[8] Jamshaid, H., Mishra, R. K., Raza, A., Hussain, U., Rahman, Md. L., Nazari, S., Chandan, V., Muller, M., & Choteborsky, R. “Natural Cellulosic Fiber Reinforced Concrete: Influence of Fiber Type and Loading Percentage on Mechanical and Water Absorption Performance,” Materials, 15(3), p. 874, 2022. doi: 10.3390/ma15030874.
[9] Zeybek, Ö., Özkılıç, Y.O., Çelik, A.İ., Deifalla, A.F., Ahmad, M. and Sabri Sabri, M.M. “Performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced concrete produced with steel fibers extracted from waste tire,” Frontiers in Materials, 9, 2022. doi: 10.3389/fmats.2022.1057128.
[10] Raza, S.S., Qureshi, L.A., Ali, B., Raza, A. and Khan, M.M. “Effect of different fibers (steel fibers, glass fibers, and carbon fibers) on mechanical properties of reactive powder concrete,” Structural Concrete, 22(1), pp. 334–346, 2021. doi: 10.1002/suco.201900439.
[11] Hamada, H.M., Shi, J., Al Jawahery, M.S., Majdi, A., Yousif, S.T. and Kaplan, G. “Application of natural fibres in cement concrete: A critical review,” Materials Today Communications, 35, p. 105833, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.105833.
[12] Zhu, L., Zheng, M., Zhang, S., Zhang, W., Chen, W. and Ou, Z. “Investigation of the Workability, Strength, and Durability of Fiber-Reinforced High-Performance Concrete with Full Aeolian Sand,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 36(3), 2024. doi: 10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-16610.
[13] Bardouh, R., Homoro, O., Reboul, N., Saidi, M. and Amziane, S. “Enhancing bio-based concrete mechanical properties: a novel approach with composite sandwiches and confined cylinders,” Materials and Structures, 57(6), p. 139, 2024. doi: 10.1617/s11527-024-02400-3.
[14] Anas, M., Khan, M., Bilal, H., Jadoon, S. and Khan, M.N. “Fiber Reinforced Concrete: A Review,” Engineering Proceedings, 22(1), p. 3, 2022. doi: 10.3390/engproc2022022003.
[15] Farhan, M., Saloma and Usman, A.P., Nurjannah, S.A. “Analysis of foamed concrete properties using artificial aggregates composed of fly ash and epoxy resin as partial sand replacement,” Indian Journal of Engineering, 23(59), pp. 1–14, 2026. doi: 10.54905/disssi.v23i59.e4ije1710.
[16] Song, G.-L., Zhang, C., Chen, X. and Zheng, D. “Galvanic activity of carbon fiber reinforced polymers and electrochemical behavior of carbon fiber,” Corrosion Communications, 1, pp. 26–39, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.corcom.2021.05.003.
[17] Yan, Li, Chu, Faliang, Tuo, Wanyong, Zhao, Xiaobo, Wang, Yan, Zhang, Pengqi, & Gao, Yibin. “Review of research on basalt fibers and basalt fiber-reinforced composites in China (I): Physicochemical and mechanical properties,” Polymers and Polymer Composites, 29(9), pp. 1612–1624, 2020. doi: 10.1177/0967391120977396.
[18] Huang, Y., Sultan, M.T., Shahar, F.S., Grzejda, R. and Łukaszewicz, A. “Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Biocomposites for Marine Applications: A Review,” Journal of Composites Science, 8(10), p. 430, 2024. doi: 10.3390/jcs8100430.
[19] Akbar, A., Kodur, V.K.R. and Liew, K.M. “Microstructural changes and mechanical performance of cement composites reinforced with recycled carbon fibers,” Cement and Concrete Composites, 121, p. 104069, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2021.104069.
[20] John, V.J. and Dharmar, B. “Influence of basalt fibers on the mechanical behavior of concrete—A review,” Structural Concrete, 22(1), pp. 491–502, 2021. doi: 10.1002/suco.201900086.
[21] Signorini, C. and Volpini, V. “Mechanical Performance of Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites Including Fully-Recycled Plastic Fibers,” Fibers, 9(3), p. 16, 2021. doi: 10.3390/fib9030016.
[22] Nana, W. S. A., Tran, H. V., Goubin, T., Kubisztal, G., Bennani, A., Bui, T. T., Cardia, G., & Limam, A. “Behaviour of macro-synthetic fibers reinforced concrete: Experimental, numerical and design code investigations,” Structures, 32, pp. 1271–1286, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.istruc.2021.03.080.
[23] Ahmad, J., Arbili, M.M., Majdi, A., Althoey, F., Deifalla, A.F. and Rahmawati, C. “Performance of concrete reinforced with jute fibers (natural fibers): A review,” Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics, 17, p. 15589250221121872, 2022. doi: 10.1177/15589250221121871.
[24] Devi, Ch., Vijayan, D.S., Nagalingam, R. and Arvindan, S. “A review of the implementations of glass fiber in concrete technology,” Materials Today: Proceedings, 62, pp. 2010–2015, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.02.293.
[25] Idagu, F.O., Onwuka, D.O., Okere, C.E. and Onwuka, U.S. “Comparison of split tensile strength of concrete using basalt and granite as coarse aggregates,” Nigerian Journal of Technology, 43(2), 2024. doi: 10.4314/njt.v43i2.7.
[26] Vairagade, Vikrant S, Dhale, Shrikrishna A, Bhandari, Pranita, Shelare, Sagar, Sharma, Shubham, Sharma, Manish, Kulshreshta, Ankur, Kozak, Dražan, Abbas, Mohamed, & Lozanovic, Jasmina.“Experimental and numerical investigation of impact resistance in mixed steel fiber-reinforced concrete: Synergistic effects of short and long fibers with simulation validation,” Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics, 20, p. 15589250251329432, 2025. doi: 10.1177/15589250251329432.
[27] Das, P.P., Chaudhary, V., Ahmad, F. and Manral, A. “Effect of nanotoxicity and enhancement in performance of polymer composites using nanofillers: A state-of-the-art review,” Polymer Composites, 42(5), pp. 2152–2170, 2021. doi: 10.1002/pc.25968.
[28] Li, H., Zhao, Y., Zhao, Y., Zhang, M., Niu, Y. and Cao, X. “Advances in the Mechanism and Application of Nanoparticles in Concrete Property Modification,” Inorganics, 13(9), p. 305, 2025. doi: 10.3390/inorganics13090305.
[29] Cao, Y., Wang, Q., Zhou, W., Chang, X., Wang, Y. and Gong, X. “Fabrication of hierarchical superhydrophobic structures by silane enriched with nanomaterials for enhancing permeability and freeze-thaw resistance,” Construction and Building Materials, 426, p. 136016, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.136016.
[30] Musa, A. A., Bello, A., Adams, S. M., Onwualu, A. P., Anye, V. C., Bello, K. A., & Obianyo, I. I. “Nano-Enhanced Polymer Composite Materials: A Review of Current Advancements and Challenges,” Polymers, 17(7), p. 893, 2025. doi: 10.3390/polym17070893.
[31] Abna, A. and Mazloom, M. “Flexural properties of fiber reinforced concrete containing silica fume and nano-silica,” Materials Letters, 316, p. 132003, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.matlet.2022.132003.
[32] Sobhy, C.S., Tawfik, T.A., El Hafez, G.M.A. and Faried, A.S. “Insights on the influence of nano-Titanium dioxide and nano-Zinc oxide on mechanical properties and inhibiting of steel reinforcement,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, 16, p. e01017, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01017.
[33] Fu, Q., Zhou, Z., Wang, Z., Huang, J. and Niu, D. “Insight into dynamic compressive response of carbon nanotube/carbon fiber-reinforced concrete,” Cement and Concrete Composites, 129, p. 104471, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104471.
[34] Mehrabi, P., Shariati, M., Kabirifar, K., Jarrah, M., Rasekh, H., Trung, N. T., Shariati, A., & Jahandari, S. “Effect of pumice powder and nano-clay on the strength and permeability of fiber-reinforced pervious concrete incorporating recycled concrete aggregate,” Construction and Building Materials, 287, p. 122652, 2021 doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122652.
[35] Jun, H.-M., Seo, D.-J., Lim, D.-Y., Park, J.-G. and Heo, G.-H. “Effect of Carbon and Steel Fibers on the Strength Properties and Electrical Conductivity of Fiber-Reinforced Cement Mortar,” Applied Sciences, 13(6), p. 3522, 2023. doi: 10.3390/app13063522.
[36] Jamaldar, A., Asadi, P., Salimi, M., Payan, M., Ranjbar, P. Z., Arabani, M., & Ahmadi, H. “Application of natural and synthetic fibers in bio-based earthen composites: A state-of-the-art review,” Results in Engineering, 25, p. 103732, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103732.
[37] Demirdağ, C., Nodehi, M., Bideci, A., Bideci, Ö. S., Tuncer, M., Gencel, O., & Ozbakkaloglu, T. “The use of natural (coconut) and artificial (glass) fibers in cement – polymer composites: An experimental study,” Construction and Building Materials, 412, p. 134895, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.134895.
[38] Akbulut, Z.F., Tawfik, T.A., Smarzewski, P. and Guler, S. “Advancing Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete: Performance, Crack Resistance Mechanism, and Future Innovations,” Buildings, 15(8), p. 1247, 2025. doi: 10.3390/buildings15081247.
[39] Pruthviraj, K.N., Jagalur Mahalingasharma, S. and Patil, S. “Experimental study on strength behaviour of concrete reinforced with natural fibers,” Materials Today: Proceedings, 80, pp. 659–667, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.11.065.
[40] Alghrairi, N., Aznieta, F.N., Ibrahim, A.M., Wan Hu, J., Mohammed Najm, H. and Anas, S.M. “Improvement of Concrete Characterization Using Nanomaterials: State-of-the-Art,” Journal of Engineering, 2025(1), p. 8027667, 2025. doi: 10.1155/je/8027667.
[41] Haroglu, H., Bulut, M. and Tanyildizi, H. “The influence of carbon nanotube and nano silica on mechanical and microstructural properties of engineered cementitious composites subjected to elevated temperatures,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, 22, p. e04616, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04616.
[42] Zhang, Z., Li, Z., He, J. and Shi, X. “High-strength engineered cementitious composites with nanosilica incorporated: Mechanical performance and autogenous self-healing behavior,” Cement and Concrete Composites, 135, p. 104837, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104837.
[43] Olofintuyi, I.O., Arum, C., Akingbonmire, S.L. and Ojokoh, B.A. “Development and application of concrete sensor to measure onsite strength of concrete,” Nigerian Journal of Technology, 43(3), 2024. doi: 10.4314/njt.v43i3.5.
[44] Song, F., Chen, Q. and Zheng, Q. “Multifunctional ultra-high performance fibre-reinforced concrete with integrated self-sensing and repair capabilities towards in-situ structure monitoring,” Composite Structures, 321, p. 117240, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2023.117240.
[45] Bado, M.F. and Casas, J.R. “A Review of Recent Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors Applications for Civil Engineering Structural Health Monitoring,” Sensors, 21(5), p. 1818, 2021. doi: 10.3390/s21051818.
[46] Bin Rashid, A., Haque, M., Islam, S.M.M. and Uddin Labib, K.M.R. “Nanotechnology-enhanced fiber-reinforced polymer composites: Recent advancements on processing techniques and applications,” Heliyon, 10(2), 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24692.
[47] Singh, A., Wang, Y., Zhou, Y., Sun, J., Xu, X., Li, Y., Liu, Z., Chen, J., & Wang, X. “Utilization of antimony tailings in fiber-reinforced 3D printed concrete: A sustainable approach for construction materials,” Construction and Building Materials, 408, p. 133689, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133689.
[48] Quadri, A.I., Rufai, M.K. and Ajayi, J.A. “Shear response of reinforced concrete deep beams utilizing waste fiber-reinforced expanded polystyrene concrete under static loading,” Nigerian Journal of Technology, 44(1), pp. 9–16, 2025. doi: 10.4314/njt.v44i1.2.
[49] Rudziewicz, M., Maroszek, M., Setlak, K., Góra, M. and Hebda, M. “Optimization of Foams—Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Mixtures Dedicated for 3D Printing,” Materials, 17(16), p. 4106, 2024. doi: 10.3390/ma17164106.
[50] Biskri, Y., Babouri, L., Benzerara, M., Anas, S. M., Dehas, O., Saidani, M., & Belouettar, R. “Mitigating high-temperature vulnerabilities in concrete: utilizing waste plastic fibers for enhanced mechanical resilience and environmental sustainability,” Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 9(7), p. 252, 2024. doi: 10.1007/s41062-024-01571-w.
[51] Khaleel, Y.U., Qubad, S.D., Mohammed, A.S. and Faraj, R.H. “Reinventing concrete: a comprehensive review of mechanical strength with recycled plastic waste integration,” Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation, 9(2), p. 111, 2024. doi: 10.1007/s41024-024-00465-9.
[52] Mahboob, A., Hassanshahi, O., Safi, M. and Majid, T.A. “Experimental investigation of eco-friendly fiber-reinforced concrete using recycled and natural fibers, integrated with recycled aggregates,” Advanced Composite Materials, 33(6), pp. 1101–1130, 2024. doi: 10.1080/09243046.2024.2322799.
[53] Alberti, M.G., Enfedaque, A., V Faria, D.M. and Fernández Ruiz, M. “The Potential of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Concrete Construction,” Applied Sciences, 14(15), p. 6629, 2024. doi: 10.3390/app14156629.
[54] Barbhuiya, S., Das, B.B., Adak, D., Kapoor, K. and Tabish, M. “Low carbon concrete: advancements, challenges and future directions in sustainable construction,” Discover Concrete and Cement, 1(1), p. 3, 2025. doi: 10.1007/s44416-025-00002-y.
[55] Sovbetov, I. “Carbon Footprint Embodied in Global Fiber Trades,” Journal of Natural Fibers, 22(1), p. 2503970, 2025. doi: 10.1080/15440478.2025.2503970.
[56] Kumar, R., Shafiq, N., Kumar, A. and Jhatial, A.A. “Investigating embodied carbon, mechanical properties, and durability of high-performance concrete using ternary and quaternary blends of metakaolin, nano-silica, and fly ash,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(35), pp. 49074–49088, 2021. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-13918-2.
[57] Ranjetha, K., Alengaram, U.J., Alnahhal, A.M., Karthick, S., Zurina, W.J.W. and Rao, K.J. “Towards sustainable construction through the application of low carbon footprint products,” Materials Today: Proceedings, 52, pp. 873–881, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2021.10.275.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nigerian Journal of Technology

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of NIJOTECH.
NIJOTECH allows open access for distribution of the published articles in any media so long as whole (not part) of articles are distributed.
A copyright and statement of originality documents will need to be filled out clearly and signed prior to publication of an accepted article. The Copyright form can be downloaded from http://nijotech.com/downloads/COPYRIGHT%20FORM.pdf while the Statement of Originality is in http://nijotech.com/downloads/Statement%20of%20Originality.pdf
For articles that were developed from funded research, a clear acknowledgement of such support should be mentioned in the article with relevant references. Authors are expected to provide complete information on the sponsorship and intellectual property rights of the article together with all exceptions.
It is forbidden to publish the same research report in more than one journal.

