Experimental Study on Influence of Methylcellulose on Tensile and Flexural Strength of Normal Strength Ordinary Portland Cement Concrete

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Current study explores the possibility of improvement in various categories of concrete’s strengths (including tensile strength, flexural strength etc.) by using methylcellulose as an additive. The effect of methylcellulose on concrete’s compressive strength has also been investigated experimentally. Concrete samples were casted with several methylcellulose to binder ratios varying from 0.002 to 0.01 by weight of cement. Several tests were performed on concrete specimens including concrete cylinder and cube compression tests, split cylinder tests and modulus of rupture tests. Results showed that addition of methylcellulose increased the tensile strength of concrete. Addition of 0.2% of methylcellulose increased the tensile strength of concrete by 16%. This increase in tensile strength reached up to 73% of the control sample on addition of 1% methylcellulose. It was observed that the effect of methylcellulose on compressive strength of concrete depends upon the type of samples being tested (cube or cylinder). The compressive strength of concrete cylinders showed a plateau behavior with peak at 0.4% methylcellulose content with an increase of 18.7%. Effect of methylcellulose on concrete cylinder strength becomes insignificant beyond 0.6%. It was observed that addition of methylcellulose reduces the modulus of rupture values. The reduction in MOR was only 3% at 0.2% methylcellulose content but it grew to 30% at 1% methylcellulose content. The research presents an effective way of increasing tensile strength of concrete but without significant effect on concrete’s compressive strength and modulus of rupture values. These findings can be used to determine optimum content of methylcellulose to achieve desired performance from concrete depending upon the intended use.