International Journal of Engineering Trends and Applications (IJETA) – Volume 11 Issue 3 May - Jun 2024

RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Concrete Reinforced with

Natural and Synthetic Fibers
Pawan Bairwa [1], Hemant Kumar Sain [2]
[1]
M.Tech Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Arya College of Engineering & Research Centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
[2]
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Arya College of Engineering, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
ABSTRACT
Concrete is a popular construction material due to its mechanical strength, ease of production, and affordability. However, it is
brittle under tensile loads, leading to rapid crack propagation. Adding fibers to the cement matrix can mitigate these issues by
acting as bridges at crack locations, enhancing performance. Fibers can be integrated as fabrics, textiles, or randomly distributed
throughout the matrix. Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are increasingly used across various industries due to their
attractive properties, and production has significantly increased with simple processing methods. There is a growing trend of
using natural waste fibers, such as straw, rice husks, and banana leaves, in polymer composites.
In this study, concrete was prepared using natural powdered fibers combined with synthetic fibers to assess their properties. The
results were compared to conventional concrete. Powdered bamboo fiber, ranging from 0% to 30%, was used as a cement
substitute in M-30 concrete. Additionally, smples contained optimized bamboo fiber and varying amounts (0.0% to 2.0%) of
polypropylene and nylon-66 fibers as admixtures..
Keywords —Concrete, Bamboo Fiber, Synthetic Fibers, Non-destructive Test, Fiber Reinforced Concrete, Nylon-66 etc.

in material science and engineering have greatly expanded its

I. INTRODUCTION potential applications and effectiveness. The introduction of
Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has emerged as a pivotal fibers into the concrete mix transforms the typically brittle
material in the construction industry, offering enhanced nature of concrete into a more ductile and resilient material,
mechanical properties that address the limitations of capable of withstanding greater stresses and deformations.
traditional concrete. The incorporation of fibers into the This enhancement is particularly crucial for meeting the
concrete matrix has revolutionized structural performance, demands of modern construction, where durability, safety, and
providing improvements in tensile strength, ductility, and high performance are essential.
crack resistance. These advancements are particularly Fiber-reinforced concrete is utilized across a wide array of
significant in the context of modern construction demands, applications, including pavements, bridge decks, high-rise
which require materials that can withstand increased loads and buildings, and structures designed to resist seismic activity.
environmental stresses. Beyond its improved mechanical properties, FRC also offers
The evolution of FRC began with the addition of steel increased impact resistance, superior fatigue performance, and
fibers, but has since expanded to include a variety of synthetic greater overall durability. These attributes make FRC an ideal
and natural fibers, each contributing distinct benefits. The choice for infrastructure projects that must endure heavy loads,
integration of fibers not only augments the intrinsic properties severe environmental conditions, and dynamic forces.
of concrete but also introduces new dimensions of
performance, such as improved impact resistance and II. METHODOLOGY
durability. As a result, FRC is increasingly utilized in a wide The details of the source materials are given below:
range of applications, from pavements and industrial floors to Cement (PPC-43) JK Laxmi Cement
complex architectural structures and seismic-resistant Aggregate Krishna Material Supplier
buildings. Sand Krishna Material Supplier
Recent Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) represents a Bamboo Fibre The Yarn Guru India Inc.
transformative advancement in the realm of construction Polypropylene Order online from India mart
materials, providing notable improvements over traditional Nylon-66 Order online from India mart
concrete. By incorporating fibers into the concrete matrix, Admixture (Sica Plast) Ghodela Traders, Jaipur
FRC significantly enhances mechanical properties and
addresses several inherent weaknesses of conventional
concrete. This innovative material is distinguished by the
inclusion of various fiber types, such as steel, glass, synthetic,
and natural fibers, which are uniformly dispersed throughout
the concrete mix. These fibers serve as micro-reinforcements,
bolstering tensile strength, ductility, and crack resistance.
The concept of reinforcing concrete with fibers has a long
history, dating back several decades. However, recent strides

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Applications (IJETA) – Volume 11 Issue 3 May - Jun 2024

Fig 1: Vicat test apparatus

A. Test on Concrete Used Fig 2: Determine compressive strength of cube sample

Compressive Strength Test (IS) 516:1959 Flexural Test (IS) 516:1959
Method of Cube casting
• To make a test specimen, fill the mould with concrete
• Rinse and lubricating mounds.
in three equal parts of comparable thickness. Tamp
• Place the concrete in the moulds in 5 cm thicker
each layer 35 times with the tampered bar, as
layers.
indicated. Tamping should be done evenly over the
• By a tamping rod, compact each layer with at least beam mould's segment while maintaining the depth
35 blows every layer (steel bar 16mm diameter and of each layer.
60cm long, bullet-pointed at lower end).
• Remove any loose sand or dirt from the specimen's
• By using a soft cloth piece, clean the top surface. surfaces that will contact the rolling elements, as well
• The test pieces are retained in moist air for 24hrs, as the bearing surface of the sustaining and loading
following which they are labelled, extracted from the rollers.
moulds, and preserved in clear freshwater until the • Steel rollers with a diameter of 38 mm will be used
test completion. to support and load samples at particular locations.
• The curing water should certainly be examined every • The rolling elements should be at least ten mm
7days period, and the temperatures should be 27+- longer than the examination specimen's breadth.
2°C.
• The span, or distance across the external rollers, is
Test Procedure
three times the distance between the internal rollers.
• After the curing period, withdraw the specimen from
• To function properly, the inner roller must be
the water and wipe away any water that remains on
uniformly distanced from the outside rollers. The
its exterior.
water-filled specimens must be assessed immediately
• Determine the specimen's dimension to the nearest after removal while still wet. The test sample must be
0.2m. properly positioned in the machine, with the axis at
• Wash the examination machine's bearing surfaces. an appropriate angle to the rollers.
• Set up the specimen in a device that applies load to • The load should be given at a rate of 400 kg/min for
opposite sides of the cast cubes. 15cm specimens and 180 kg/min for 10cm specimens,
• Position the specimen in the middle of the device's with the direction of the load being normal to the
bottom panel. direction in which the mould is filled with the
• Rotate the moveable piece by hand until it reaches moulded specimens.
the upper area of the specimen. Rebound hammer [IS 13311(2)-1992]
• Load the specimen progressively and reliably at 140
kg/cm2/min until failure occurs. The initial phase in analyzing concrete with a rebound
• Identify any unexpected features of the failure and hammer is to set it. The rebound hammer has been evaluated
indicate the maximum load. on a steel test hammer with a Brinell hardness of
approximately 5000 N/mm2. Following proper testing on the
test hammer, the rebound hammer is set up at an exact angle
to the surface of the concrete structure in order to take
measurements. As seen in the image below, the test can be
carried out horizontally on a vertical surface, in addition to
vertically upwards or downwards on a horizontal surface. If
the rebound hammer is held in the middle position, the
rebound value for the given concrete will vary. The

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Applications (IJETA) – Volume 11 Issue 3 May - Jun 2024
compressive strength of concrete cannot be directly record the rebound value displayed on the rebound
determined from rebound hammer tests. However, the hammer for each test location.
rebound hammer test can provide an estimate or indication of • Refer to the calibration chart provided by the
the concrete's compressive strength based on empirical manufacturer or relevant standards. This chart
correlations established through calibration and validation correlates the rebound values obtained from the test
against actual compressive strength measurements. with estimated compressive strength values.
• To estimate the compressive strength of concrete • Use the chart to find the corresponding estimated
using the rebound hammer test, you can follow these compressive strength values for the rebound values
steps: recorded at each test location.
• Calibrate the rebound hammer using a calibration • Analyze the estimated compressive strength values
anvil or a reference concrete surface with known obtained from the rebound hammer tests.
compressive strength. This calibration process • Compare these estimated values with the project
establishes a correlation between the rebound value requirements, specifications, or standards to assess
(measured by the rebound hammer) and the the quality and suitability of the concrete.
compressive strength of concrete. • It's essential to remember that rebound hammer tests
• Choose representative locations on the concrete provide only an estimate of the concrete's
surface where you want to estimate the compressive compressive strength and should be used as a
strength. Ensure these locations are clean, free from supplementary tool for quality control and
loose particles, and have a uniform surface texture. assessment rather than a substitute for direct
• Hold the rebound hammer perpendicular to the compressive strength testing.
concrete surface at the selected test locations.
Release the spring-loaded plunger to allow the III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
hammer to impact the concrete surface. Note and

Distribution Curve for Coarse Aggregate

120
100 100 100 100 100
Retained percentages

100
82.5
80

60 56

40
20.75
20
5.5
0
0
20 12.5 10 6.3 4.75 1.18 0.6 0.3 0.15 Pan
Sieve size (mm)

Fig 3: Distribution Curve for Coarse Aggregate

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Applications (IJETA) – Volume 11 Issue 3 May - Jun 2024

Distribution Curve for fine Aggregate

120

100
Retained percentages

100 95.2

80
68.9

60

40 36.4
24.9
20
9.4
0
0
4.75 2.36 1.18 0.6 0.3 0.15 pan
Sieve size (mm)

Fig 4: Distribution Curve for Fine Aggregate

Fig 5: Compressive Strength test with Optimum Bamboo Fiber and Polypropylene Fiber

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Applications (IJETA) – Volume 11 Issue 3 May - Jun 2024

Fig 6: Compressive strength of Concrete with PBF at varying Percentage

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Applications (IJETA) – Volume 11 Issue 3 May - Jun 2024

Fig 7: Compressive Strength test with Optimum Bamboo Fiber and Nylon-66 Fiber

concrete properties in applications such as pavements,

IV. CONCLUSIONS industrial floors, high-rises, and seismic-resistant structures.
The study emphasizes the benefits of incorporating fibers Environmental and Economic Benefits: Incorporating
into concrete, transforming it into fiber-reinforced concrete natural waste fibers like bamboo not only enhances
(FRC) with enhanced mechanical properties. Key findings mechanical properties but also reduces waste and promotes
include: sustainability in construction practices.
Enhanced Mechanical Properties: Natural bamboo fibers Future Research: Further research is crucial to optimize
and synthetic fibers like polypropylene and nylon-66 fiber types, proportions, and distributions for enhanced FRC
improved tensile strength, ductility, crack resistance, and performance. Advances in material science will likely lead to
durability by acting as micro-reinforcements. broader applications and improved sustainability in
Optimized Fiber Content: Testing various proportions of construction.
bamboo fiber (0% to 30%) in M-30 concrete showed In conclusion, integrating natural and synthetic fibers into
significant improvements in compressive strength and overall concrete significantly enhances its mechanical properties,
performance, especially when combined with synthetic fibers. positioning fiber-reinforced concrete as a versatile and robust
Improved Performance Metrics: Concrete samples with material for modern construction, meeting demands for
natural and synthetic fiber blends exhibited superior durability, safety, and high performance in infrastructure.
compressive strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance,
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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Applications (IJETA) – Volume 11 Issue 3 May - Jun 2024
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