and other such problems while aligned continuous filaments or thin fiber mats can provide high reinforcement levels gt 20 the processing steps are very complex and not readily adaptable to different configurations the use of short chopped fibers can also provide high reinforcement volume levels gt 20 but only if rolled laminated pressed extruded or otherwise processed with specialized processing equipment blends of fine filaments and binder which can be mixed with simple paddle blades or tumbling action and which can be poured and formed directly in open molds without aggressive consolidation or densification methods generally cannot exceed 1 or 2 fiber volume levels some of the newer processing techniques describe the ability to approach 5 or 10 fiber volume content but the improvements in composite strength over unreinforced binder matrix are still not very significant the key objective of the present invention then is to achieve the ability to mix and form composites using simple direct methods while providing high levels of reinforcement and enhanced physical properties the design of the reinforcement geometry is limited to relatively few options the diameter and length of the discrete reinforcing members are basically the only main variables that can be manipulated this leads to four different sets of reinforcement thin short thin long thick short and thick long reinforcing geometric shapes the reinforcing elements in common usage today are the thin fiber diameters with short to long continuous lengths and for certain applications i e steel reinforced concrete large diameter rods of long.