The main advantage of continuous fibers and textiles as reinforcements in cement-based composites is the enhancement of mechanical behavior. There is an improvement both in the tensile and flexural performance, as well as in the ductility of the cementitious composite. The diversity in terms of fabric making, fabric geometry, and input fiber types and yarns provides an opportunity for development of cement based composites and allows engineering of the performance of the final products for the desired requirements.

Recognizing the increasing research interest in thin fiber-reinforced cement-based composites using textiles and hybrid systems (textiles and chopped fibers) and their emerging industrial applications, ACI Committee 549 sponsored a two-part technical session on "Thin Fiber and Textile Reinforced Cementitious Systems" at the ACI Spring 2005 Convention in New York. Ten papers were presented by invited international experts from Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States.

This Special Publication (SP) contains ten papers which provide insight on the topics of state of the art of thin fiber and textile-reinforced cementitious systems both in academia and the industry. The topics of the papers cover experimental and theoretical materials aspects, such as the effect of different input fibers, fabric type, and construction and matrix on mechanical and long-term properties of the composite; experimental and theoretical considerations on yarn-to-matrix bond and load transfer; as well as applications of the cementitious composites proposed and examples of strengthening of reinforced concrete using textile-reinforced concrete.

The future of thin fiber and textile-reinforced cementitious systems depends on their ability to compete with existing solutions and to identify new applications. Research and development efforts are required in the areas of process, design, and applications of textile-reinforced concrete.