Society of Civil Engineering Students’ Nepal, 2017

Study of Mechanical Properties of Fiber Reinforced

Concrete with Conventional Concrete
Sandesh Lamsal
Department of Civil Engineering, National College of Engineering, IOE, TU, Nepal.
Society of Civil Engineering Students’ Nepal

ersandeshlamsal@gmail.com

Abstract
New age structures are being built massive, taller and complicated in shape. These requirements
cannot be fulfilled by conventional concrete, as it possess a very low tensile strength, limited
ductility and little resistance to cracking, internal micro cracks are inherently present in the concrete
and its poor tensile strength is due to propagation of such micro cracks, eventually leading to brittle
fracture of the concrete. Concrete is relatively brittle, and its tensile strength is typically only about
one tenths of its compressive strength. Brittle materials are considered to have no significant post-
cracking ductility. When subjected to tension, these unreinforced brittle matrices initially deform
elastically. The elastic response is followed by micro-cracking, localized macro-cracking, and finally
fractures. The application of fiber reinforced concrete is able to overcome these problems. When
concrete cracks, the randomly oriented fibers start functioning, arrest crack formation and
propagation, and thus improve strength and ductility. Introduction of fibers into the concrete results
in post elastic property changes. Fibers can prevent the occurrence of large crack widths that are
either unsightly or permit water and contaminants to enter, causing corrosion of reinforcing steel or
potential deterioration of concrete. The use of fibers in conventional concrete increases its strength
and enhances the serviceability behaviors. Steel fibers are commonly used but human hair and hay
which are easily available are our more emphasis. Human hair is natural waste material which can
cause environmental problems. These can be used in concrete to enhance its mechanical properties.
Hay fibers can be used too for less cost and better strength. In this research the compressive behavior
of a fiber reinforced concrete was investigated through a uniaxial compression test in which the
variables were concrete compressive strength and fiber aspect ratio (length to diameter). In order to
minimize the effect of specimen size on fiber distribution, 42 cylinder specimens 150 mm in
diameter and 300 mm in height and 42 cube specimen of 150 mm length were prepared and then
subjected to uniaxial compression. The cost efficiency due to the use of fiber reinforced concrete
instead of normal concrete in construction of a three storied residential building has also been
compared. The use of fibers in conventional concrete increases its strength and enhances the
serviceability behaviors. From the test results, it was shown that the compressive strength increases
by32% due to nylon fibers of aspect ratio 150 and by 69% due to steel fibers of aspect ratio 50. It
directly implies to the fact that the modulus of elasticity increases accordingly with the increase in
the grade of concrete resulted from increased compressive strength. The finding might be useful in
cost effective constructions as the addition of 1% by volume into the concrete mix can cause
immense variation in its mechanical properties. According to the estimation, we can save up to 15%
of fund in rebar using nylon fiber whereas 24.12% fund using steel fiber as compared to normal
RCC.
Keywords
 Society of Civil Engineering Students’ Nepal, 2017

Ductility, Brittle fracture, Micro cracking, Fibers, Deterioration