Fine sandy concrete reinforced with polypropylene fibre for rural and desert housing

Abstract

This research aimed to design a low-cost fibre concrete as an alternative to earth-concrete reinforced with biomaterial fibres, where the latter is characterized by mechanical defects such as low strength, water degradation and air erosion, as well as the continuous deformation related to the self-compression and unlimited subsidence of the bearing surface soil.The designed concrete is composed of fine sand, cement at small quantities and polypropylene fibre available on the daily market. This material is easy to form due to the availability of fine sand in nature and the possibility of its production without much skill. At the same time, it is made at a low cost and short implementation time, unlike earth concrete where it needs time to dry and acquire the appropriate strength. Laboratory work has shown good results as the light density, the large ductility, and an acceptable strength capacity of this material.