Performance evaluation of polypropylene fiber waste reinforced concrete in presence of silica fume

Abstract

Abstract The worldwide application of high-performance concrete is particularly suitable for high-level towers, long bridges and special structures. Concrete binder products (used in high-level concrete), due to their low expense, reliability and ample compression strength in the structural framework, are desirable for use as construction materials. Failure is attributed to its features of poor tensile strength and effect and its sensitivity to increases in moisture. The fiber reinforcement can be a simple, functional and cost-effective way to resolve such limitations. The application of fibers as concrete reinforcement will improve many of its properties, in particular strength, fatigue, permeability, and barrier properties. Various consequences of the addition of silica fume (SF) and polypropylene fiber waste (PFW) to the mechanical characteristics of the concrete have been analyzed in this study. The current study aimed at analyzing the effects of cement substitution with SF, PFW and their combinations. SF content was ranged between 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16% and PFW as 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2% and 1.6% by weight substitution of cement in order to analyze the effect on workability, compressive strength & tensile strength investigated at 7 days, 28 days, & 90 days of curing ages. The efficiency of the concrete w.r.t mechanical properties was improved severalfold in ternary composites. The XRD and SEM assessment correlated the microstructure with the improved mechanical properties of the composites.