Experimental evaluation of sorptivity for high strength concrete reinforced with zirconia rich glass fiber and basalt fiber

Abstract

In the abstract mentioned concrete in structures is subjected to various environmental loads such as chloride attack, sulphate attack, and gases during its life are the main idea of the authors. Concrete being weak in tension loses its tensile strength on account of these loads and distress in concrete appears in the form of cracks leading to corrosion of reinforcing steel. The service life span thus of an RCC structure is impaired. To enhance the concrete strength particularly in tension, in this research work, zirconia rich glass fiber, and basalt fiber with 1:1 combination of 12 mm and 18 mm standard cut length with 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0, and 2.4% by cement weight are used in high strength concrete. Experimental studies are performed on fresh concrete for workability and hardened concrete specimens for demoulded density, compressive strength, pulse velocity, percent voids, and sorptivity after 28 days of normal curing. It is found that 1.2% glass and basalt fiber have the same effect on the workability but a higher percentage of glass fiber produces a lower slump than basalt fiber. The optimum percentage of glass fiber and basalt fiber in this study are found to be 1.2% and 1.6% respectively which impart maximum compressive strength by 10.20% and 11.70% as compared to their reference concretes. Concrete with combined basalt fiber is found to possess a lower coefficient of sorptivity than glass fiber. The same trend has been found in the percentage voids of these concretes.