Review of recent developments in cement composites reinforced with fibers and nanomaterials

The quest for high-performance construction materials is led by the development and application of new reinforcement materials for cement composites. Concrete reinforcement with fibers has a long history. Nowadays, many new fibers associated with high performance and possessing eco-environmental characteristics, such as basalt fibers and plant fibers, have received much attention from researchers. In addition, nanomaterials are considered as a core material in the modification of cement composites, specifically in the enhancement of the strength and durability of composites. This paper provides an overview of the recent research progress on cement composites reinforced with fibers and nanomaterials. The influences of fibers and nanomaterials on the fresh and hardened properties of cement composites are summarized. Moreover, future trends in the application of these fibers or of nanomaterial-reinforced cement composites are proposed.