Investigation on strength and energy absorption capacity of steel polyester hybrid fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract

Cement Concrete is the most widely used building material for all civil engineering applications due to its well-known benefits However its limited tensile strength is a concern To improve this various research works were carried out by many researchers From these studies it is clearly understood that fiber reinforcement is the best and versatile way to enhance the post cracking tensile strength and energy absorption capacity during fracture Various type of fibers are being used as reinforcement in the concrete matrix namely natural metallic and polymer fibres Commonly used natural fibres are made of palm straw and coir Fibers made of steel and stainless steel is termed as metallic fibers while fibers made of polyester polypropylene aramid is termed as polymer fibers These fibers are either long or short straight or hooked single or hybrid In the present investigation steel and polyester fibers were used in various volume fractions Control concrete mixture was made with Ordinary Portland Cement fine and coarse aggregate along with flyash silicafume and high range water reducing admixtures With no change in the constituents of concrete steel fiber reinforced concrete specimens were made with hooked end steel fibers of aspect ratio 80 and 55 volume fraction being 03 05 and 075 Similarly polyester fiber reinforced concrete specimens were made with 12mm synthetic polyester fibers at 051 and 2 volume fraction Hybrid fiber reinforced concrete specimens for extensive experimentation were made with steel and polyester fibers in volume ratios of 05 05 05 08 05 10 05 20 075 10 075 20 newline