Abstract:

The performance of conventional concrete is enhanced by the addition of fibres in concrete. Consequently the brittleness in concrete is reduced, and its acceptable ductility is also ensured by this addition. In this paper the strength of concrete cubes, cylinders and beams cast using M25 grade concrete and reinforced with steel and polypropylene fibres is presented. Also hybrid fibres with crimped steel and polypropylene were used in a concrete matrix to study improvements in the strength properties of steel, polypropylene and hybrid polypropylene as well as steel (crimped) fibres of various proportion i.e., 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1% and 0.5% (0.25% of steel and 0.25% of polypropylene), 0.75% (0.5% of steel and 0.25% of polypropylene, 0.25% of steel and 0.5% of polypropylene) and 1% of various combinations of hybrid fibres for 7,14 and 28 days. The main reason for synthetic fibres in the concrete matrix is to improve the post cracking response of the concrete to improve the energy absorption capacity and ductility as well as to provide crack resistance and control. The introduction of this type of concrete was brought in as a solution to develop concrete with enhanced flexural and tensile strength. In this paper we analysed and present a comparison between conventional concrete and fibre reinforced concrete, leading to a crack free structure.