Comparison of properties of concrete having basalt and polypropylene fibre

Abstract

Concrete manufactured with Portland cement has high strength of compression but is weaker in tension and fails in brittleness. The weakness of concrete in tension can be improved by using reinforcement and by adding different fibres. The experimentation was done to calculate compressive strength, split tensile and flexural strength of concrete with Basalt fibre and Polypropylene fibre having compositions of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 % by weight of cement with admixture. Experimental results were compared and studied with conventional concrete. Strength of compression of M40 grade concrete increases till 0.6 % of polypropylene fibre content and basalt fibre content and decreases as further increase in dosage for 7 days and 28 day curing period. Experimental result reveal, the optimum dosage of Basalt fibre for the split tensile strength is about 0.6 % and optimum content of polypropylene fibre is about 0.3%. Strength of flexure of concrete shows increments upto 0.6% content of basalt fibre and then decreases as further increase in dosage. Similarly in case of polypropylene fibre, Flexural strength increases up to 0.4% content and then declines as further content goes on incrementing.