Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Concrete Incorporated with Basalt and Polypropylene Fibers

Abstract

Plain concrete has a very low tensile strength and is susceptible to cracking before the ultimate load. Various types of fibers aid in the resistance of fractures in concrete constructions. The present study aims to understand the engineering properties of M40 grade concrete for the varying percentage of fibers [polypropylene fibers (PF) and basalt fibers (BF)] from 0.2% to 0.8% by 0.2% incrementally for 7 days and 28 days of curing. The optimum percentage of BF and PF were 0.6 and 0.4% by weight of concrete, respectively. Moreover, it was found that BF and PF can potentially increase the compressive strength by 12.90%, split tensile strength by 28.33%, and flexural strength by 16.98%; and the compressive strength by 11.04%, split tensile strength by 18.18%, and flexural strength by 15.47% at optimum percentage on 28 days of curing when compared to plain concrete. Moreover, the optimum percentage of BF and PF decreases the mobility of the concrete in its fresh form by acting as a barrier to the movement of coarse material by 28.57 and 7.14%, respectively, at their optimum percentage.