CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Introduction
On this chapter data from the tests conducted from the above section will be discussed the
effects of addition of glass fibers will be determined on the compression and tensile strength
of the concrete obtained. Two mechanical strength tests of concrete were carried out which
were compressive strength test and tensile strength test and on fresh concrete slump test was
carried out in order to check the concrete workability when adding glass fibers, other tests for
the materials used in making or production of concrete were carried out these tests were done
on fine aggregates (sand) and coarse aggregates.
4.2 Results and Discussion on Coarse Aggregate Tests
In conducting the tests CML and BS 882:1992 were used tests which were conducted were to
check if the available coarse aggregate are suitable to be used, the following are the tests
undertaken for coarse aggregate and their analysis.
4.2.1 Results
 Sieve Analysis test
The following are results from sieving coarse aggregate
Sample Avera
no. A B ge
Wt. of
sample Gradi
(g) 5001.90 5002.80 ng
Wt. % % Wt. % %
Sieve Retain Retain Passi Retain Retain Passi
(mm) ed ed ng ed ed ng  
              100.0
37.5 0.0  0.0 100.0 0.0  0.0  100.0 100.0
25.0 0.00 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 100.0
19.0 1175.8 23.5 76.5 1203.8 24.1 75.9 76.2
12.5 1902.4 38.0 38.5 1879.6 37.6 38.4 38.4
9.5 774.6 15.5 23.0 792.7 15.8 22.5 22.7
4.8 867.2 17.3 5.6 884.3 17.7 4.8 5.2
2.36 67.2 1.3 0.0   82.4 1.6 0.0 0.0
The graph obtain for particle distribution
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
% Passing

50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
0.0 0.1 1.0 10.0 100.0
Sieve sizes (mm)

 Other tests which were conducted on coarse aggregates are

Test Value obtained
Specific gravity 2.701
Water absorption 0.2
Moisture content
TFV (Dry condition) 210KN
TFV (Wet condition) 202 KN

4.2.2 Discussion
 From sieve analysis the distribution of aggregate after blending was observed to be
within the minimum and the maximum envelopes provided from CML hence the
present sample of aggregate were useful for concrete production
 As the specific gravity for coarse to be used in concrete ranges from 2.5 to 3.0
(Neville 2013). The 2.701 obtained in available shows the concrete was good to be
used in the study.
 Water absorption observed 0.2 in concrete was minimum to the range of 0.5 to 1
percentages as suggested by Neville hence there was no need of addition of more
water from the value obtained from mix design (Neville 2013).
 On TFV test the values obtained for dry and wet conditions were 210KN and 202KN
respectively in which both were greater than 110KN suggested in BS 812: part 111:
1990 hence coarse aggregate were useful in study.
4.3 Results and Discussion on fine Aggregate Tests
The sand obtained were crushed sand so the tests were conducted in order to check if the
characteristics mentioned from manufacturer are the same, sieve and water content tests were
conducted.

4.3.1 Results
 Sieve Analysis
Table showing results for fine aggregate sieving
Weight of sample (g) 1669.7
Sieve (mm) 10 5 2.36 1.18 0.6 0.3 0.15 Pan
Retained (g) 0.0 0.6 301.9 673.1 364.9 167.2 94.9 67.1
Retained % 0.00 0.04 18.08 40.30 21.85 10.01 5.68 4.02
Passing % 100.00 99.96 81.89 41.59 19.74 9.73 4.05  
Cumulative retained   0.04 18.11 58.41 80.26 90.27 95.95  99.97
%
FM 3.4

Graph for sand distribution

Wet sieve analysis

Percentage Passing each sieve

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.01

0.1

10

Sieve Sizes mm - log scale

 Water content
Results obtained in test
Mass of sample before oven (M1) = 1331.2g
Mass of dry sample (M2) = 1230g
M 1−M 2
WC = X 100 %
M2
 1331.2−1230
= X 100 %
1230
=8.2%
4.3.2 Discussion
 From sieve analysis the sand was found well distributed as suggested on BS
882:1992, fine modulus of sand of 3.4 was found within range of 2.54 and 4.1
as according to BS 882.
 Water content of fine aggregate was within the range of 0-8% then the sand
was useful (BS 8007)

4.4 Concrete Mixing Design Results

Basing on DOE design for the C20 concrete grade the ratio of cement, sand and coarse
aggregate was found to be 1:1.49:2.898 which was equivalent to 1:1.5:3.
In order to obtain the mass of glass fibers to be added in the mixture total mass of concrete
ingredient for normal was found for 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 percentages of glass fibers the mass of
glass were obtained as follows.
Mass of concrete was determined for 8 cubes and 7 cylinder in order to get 6 cubes in casting
and 6 cylinders.
Sample Glass fibers Cement Water Fine Coarse Glass
number percent mass (kg) mass (kg) aggregate aggregate fibers
mass (kg) mass (kg) mass (kg)

1 0 11 6.1 16.5 32 0

2 0.2 11 6.1 16.5 32 0.2772

3 0.4 11 6.1 16.5 32 0.5545

4 0.6 11 6.1 16.5 32 0.8317

4.5 Slump Test

Slump test was done on every sample in order to check the variations where the content of
glass was added in different quantities where the mass of normal concrete ingredient were left
constant, design slump was 60mm – 180mm.
4.5.1 Results
Table for slump results
Sample number Glass fibers content Slump value Average slump
(%) (mm) value (mm)
1 0 121 118
119
114
2 0.2 84 86
89
85
3 0.4 60 63
67
62
4 0.6 56 54
54
52

Graph for slump against glass fibers content

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Series 1 Column2 Column1

4.5.2 Discussion
 From the data above it shows that the more increase of glass fibers in the concrete
lead to the decrease in workability as glass fibers increases the sorption of water in the
solution (SHEN,C.H AND SPRINGER, G. S)
4.5 Compressive Strength Test
The compressive strength test was one of the most important tests in the construction industry
because it used to evaluate the quality and grading of the concrete. For this research are total
of 36 concrete cubes sample were cast with dimension of 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm
which consist of 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 percentages of glass fibers.

4.5.1 Results
By compressing the casted specimens at the seventh day the following values of compressive
strength were observed.
Table for the compressive values

Glass fibers Compressive Average of

content (%) strength in 7days compressive
(N/mm2) strength (N/mm2)
in 7days
27.0
0 26.3 26.9
27.3
31.5
0.2 30.7 31.4
32.1
36.8
0.4 35.5 36.5
37.1
37.8
39.7
38.8
0.6
39.1

The graph of compressive strength against glass fibers content

 45
40
35
compressive strength (N/mm2)

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
glass fibers content (%)
Series 1

4.5.2 Discussion
 Observing the values of compressive strength of concrete it shows it increases as the
content of glass fibers increases due to the behaviour of glass fibers to prevent cracks
propagation caused by loading of specimen blocks. (MM MGVIOVGGVI)
 Also it was seen that the length of the cracks on the specimen were reduced as the
content of glass fibers were increase this was due to the prevention of propagation of
cracks done by glass fibers
5.6 Splitting Tensile Test
The splitting tensile strength was one of the most useful test which could determine the
percentage of concrete and size of cracking in concrete structure. A method of determining
the tensile strength of concrete using a cylinder total of 30 concrete cylinder sample with
dimension 150 mm diameter with 300 mm height were cast in this research study for splitting
test, the tests were done for 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 percentages of glass fibers.

5.6.1 Results
Using the compression machine in compressing cylinder specimens the following values of
splitting tensile strength were obtained.
Table for the splitting tensile strength

Glass fibers Compressive Average of

content (%) strength in 7days compressive
(N/mm2) strength (N/mm2)
in 7days
1.9 2.0
 0 1.8
2.2
2.9
0.2 2.6 2.7
2.7
3.3
0.4 3.5 3.3
3.2
3.7
0.6 3.5 3.7
4.0

The graph of tensile strength against glass fibers content

Y-Values
4
3.5
tensile strength (KN)

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

glass fibers content (%)

5.6.2 Discussion

 It was observed that the increase in glass fibers content increase the splitting tensile
strength of the concrete produced as the glass fibers spread throughout the whole
concrete hence as glass fibers are good in modulus of elasticity then they reduces the
brittleness of the concrete produced.
 CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion
From the obtained data and their analysis above it shows that the addition of have impacts in
every test when incorporated in concrete as reinforcement, these effects was shown
themselves for both fresh concrete (workability of concrete) and harden concrete
(compression strength and splitting tensile strength).

 For workability, the trend of workability of concrete appeared to decrease in the

increase on increase of glass fibers to the point where it exceeded the range of slump
value which was suggested in concrete mixing design which was 60mm to 180mm on
the addition of 0.6% of glass fibers the values goes down to 54mm in which it
indicates that the values for compressive and tensile strength obtain on 0.6% of glass
fibers are deviating from the trend of others.
 In compressive strength, tests shows the increase in compressive strength of concrete
produced when the glass fibers content was increased at 0.6% the value of
compression strength observed to change from the trend of previous compression
strength due to workability observed to be out of designed range.
 Tensile strength, increase in tensile strength was observed throughout the increase of
glass fibers which indicates that the addition glass fibers is the best way for the
reduction of brittleness of concrete.
Therefore from all perspective tested glass fibers shows the usefulness when added to the
concrete the reduction of brittleness of concrete and length of crakes formed on concrete
helps in preservation of steel reinforcement from corrosion and reduction of structural
elements dimensions hence low cost in construction.
5.2 Recommendation
From analysis of data there are some improvement which could be done in order to get
more usefulness of glass fibers in concrete also the maximum percentage of glass fibers
can be suggested.

 Maximum percentage of glass fibers for the concrete mixing design used, as the
workability was decreasing up to when it goes beyond the minimum range of
slump so from the minimum value of slump for design gives the maximum value
of glass fibers content. Using the 60mm as minimum slump from design 0.445
percent is obtained as the maximum percentage of glass fibers to be added for
maximum strength and workability when no additive is in use.

Below graph shows how the suggested value was obtained

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

 On improvements to be done in adjusting the use of glass fibers in concrete, on

improving additive can be used in order to maintain the slump value in order that
it could be in design range to that the results which could be obtained from tests of
compression and tensile could be appropriate to the design, also it could allow to
obtain the maximum amount of glass fibers in which when added the compression
strength will start to go down.