Experimental Study of Properties of concrete reinforced

with Glass fiber & Polypropylene fiber

Use of short discrete fibers in cementitious composites

(concrete) is one approach to mitigate the cracking and
increasing the tensile straining capacity.
Strengthening cement by adding fibers was first done in
1908, when asbestos-cement entered the market.

The desire for a more versatile product, one that could even
be field mixed and applied, as well as the recent stress on
hazards of asbestos fibers has helped stimulate accelerated
research on other synthetic fibers for cement product
reinforcement.

There were earlier efforts, but serious synthetic fiber

research really started in the late fifties and early sixties, and
commercial products and applications have only begun to
appear in the last five or six years.

The term fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) is defined by ACI

Committee 544 as a concrete made of hydraulic cements
containing fine or fine and coarse aggregates and
discontinuous discrete fibers.
Researchers have evaluated a number of fibers, including
carbon steel, stainless steel, carbon, various plastics, rock
wool and glass. The success of glass & polypropylene fiber
reinforcement for plastics had made glass fiber mixed into
cement and concrete look like a winner.
Researchers struck out when they first tried this, however. Test
samples were initially strong but the strength dropped off as
the samples aged because the highly alkaline environment
provided by Portland cement attacked surfaces of the glass
fibers.
The problem associated with glass fiber let to development of
new Alkali Resistance Glass Fiber & Propylene Fiber.

MATERIAL USED IN CONCRETE

Cement : Acementis abinder, a substance that sets and hardens

and can bind other materials together. Generally cement can be
further classified in two forms i.e. O.P.C & P.P.C cements

Aggregate: For aggregate coarse sand is used as fine aggregate

and stone grit as coarse aggregate.

Water: Water is the most important and least expensive ingredient

of concrete. A part of mixing water is utilized in the hydration of
cement to form the binding matrix in which the inert aggregates are
held in suspension until the matrix has hardened.

Super Plasticizers: Use of super plasticizers permits the

reduction of water up to 30 percent without reducing
workability in contrast to the possible reduction up to 15
percent in case of plasticizers.

Glass fiber: Glass fiber (also spelled glass fiber) is a material

consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass. Glass
fiber is formed when thin strands ofsilica based or other
formulation glass areextrudedinto many fibers with small
diameters. Until this time, all glass fiber had been
manufactured asstaple(that is, clusters of short lengths of
fiber). The first commercial production of glass fiber was in
1936.
In
1938Owens-Illinois Glass Companyand
Corning Glass Worksjoined
to
form
the
Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation. When the two companies
joined to produce and promote glass fiber, they introduced
continuousfilamentglass fibers. Owens-Corning is still the
major glass-fiber producer in the market today.

Properties & Classification of Glass Fiber:

S.No Properties

E Glass AR- Glass S-Glass

Tensile Strength (Gpa)

3.5

3.5

4.6

Modolous (Gpa)

73.5

175

86.8

Elongation (%)

4.8

5.4

Density (gm/cc)

2.57

2.68

2.46

Refractive Index

1.547

1.561

Coeff Of Thermal Expansion (10^7/oC)

50-52

75

23-27

Dielectric Constant RT (10^10 Hz)

6.1-6.3

5-5.1

Fig of Cemi-Fil Anti-Crack H.D Glass Fiber obtained from

Owens Crowning.

GLASS FIBER USED IN THIS THESIS:Class:

Alkali Resistant which is obtained by adding zirconia

(zirconium oxide) to the glass-the best fibers have zirconia
contents of 16% to 18% or higher.
Name:

Cem-Fil Anti-Crack, HD-12mm (manufactured By

OWENS
CORNING)
Aspect

Ratio: 857:1
Specific Surface Area: 105m2/kg
Specific Gravity: 2.75
Softening Point: 775oC
Elongation at break: 2.4%
Combustibility: Non Combustible

Benefits of Cem-Fil Anti-Crack, HD Fiber:

1.Increase

Compressive Strength.
2.Increase Flexural Strength.
3.Reduced Bleeding.
4.Reduced Plastic Shrinkage Cracking
5.Reduced Permeability.
6.Reduce Freeze/Thaw expansion.

Polypropylene fibers : Polypropylene fibers were first

suggested for use in 1965 as an admixture in concrete for
construction of blast resistant buildings meant for the US
Corps of Engineers. Polypropylene fibers are thermo plastics
produced from Propylene gas. The structure of the fibrillated
polypropylene fibers is such that it provides three
dimensional reinforcement to the cementitious matrix thus;
enhancing tensile strength, tensile strain capacity and
the improved resistance to impact and fatigue.

Fig of Recron 3s Polypropylene Fiber obtained from Reliance

Industry

Recron 3 S Fibers Advantages, Specifications and

Properties:
Major Advantages of Recron 3 S Fibers:
1. Reduction in Plastic Shrinkage.
2. Reduction in Drying Shrinkage.
3. Reduction is Static permeability.
4. Improvement in Tensile Strength.
5. Reduction in permeability.
6. Reduction in Crack width and crack propagation.
7. Improvement in Abrasion Resistance (Wet and Dry).
8. Improvement in Impact Strength.
9. Improvement in Energy Absorption & Dissipation.
10. Improvement in Flexural Toughness.

Major Specifcation of Recron 3 S Fibers:

S.No

Property

Micro
Fibre(PET)

Material

Polyester

Shape/Cross
Section

Micro
Fibre(PP)
Polypropylene

Triangular

Triangular

Effective Diameter

10 40 microns

10-40 microns

Specific Gravity

1.31-1.39

0.9

Melting Point

240-260oC

150-160 0 C

Macro
Fibre
Polypropylene
Non Circular
0.8-1.2 mm
0.9
150-165 o C

The Properties of Recron 3 S are as under:

S.No

Propertiers

Value

1
2
3

Elongation %
Abrasion Resistance
Moidsture Absorption %

40 to 100
Good
0 to 0.05

Softening Point (oC)

140

Melting Point ( C)

165

6
7
8
9

Chemical resistance
Relative Density
Thermal Conductivity
Electric Insulation

Generally Excellent
0.91
6 (with air as 1)
Excellent

10

Resistant To Mildew, moth

Excellent

Recron 3S with their usage restrict the occurrence of first

crack and reduce further crack propagation due to thermal
stresses and loading by working in three dimension matrix of
concrete as given in the fiber mechanism diagram is given
below:

Recron 3 S Fibers Applications:

1.Pavements/Cement Concrete (CC) Roads And
Floorings.
2.RCC Structures, Bridges & Dams.
3.Plaster/Mortar/Screeds.
4.APPLICATIONS IN BLAST RESISTANCE

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1.Study

the mix design aspects of concrete containing glass

fiber and polypropylene.
2.To

understand the appropriate percentage of glass fiber

and polypropylene fiber in concrete.
Study the behavior of concrete in fresh as well as in
hardened state noted after mixing these fibers.
3.

4.For

the mechanical properties, the following tests are

conducted to study the effect of Amount of fibers on the
compressive, tensile and flexure strength and the
associated straining capacity.

RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE:
1.The

significance of this research is to work on both

strength and durability criteria of concrete.
2.Earlier both Glass Fiber and Polypropylene Fiber were used
separately and in this research we have used both these
fiber simultaneously and termed it as GFPPFRC similarly as
GFFRC and PPFRC.

METHODOLOGY:
1.The

research methodology was to conduct a literature

review of the studies on GFFRC and PPFRC.
2.An experimental program was developed to study the
properties of GFPPFRC in fresh and hardened state.
3.Using these GFPPFRC concrete mixes, test specimens were
cast, cured and tested as per the experimental matrix.
4.The results of the plain and GFPPFRC concrete test
specimens were compared to quantify the beneficial effects
of Glass and Polypropylene Fiber on concrete.

1.

General: Use of glass fibers in concrete was first

2.

Previous Works on Glass Fiber Reinforced

Concrete &
Polypropylene Reinforced
Concrete:

attempted by Biryukovich in the year 1965. After this initial

work, a substantial amount of research, development,
experimentation, and industrial application of fiber
reinforced concrete has occurred.

G. Jyothi Kumari, et al [1] studied behavior of concrete

beams reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer flats
and observed that beams with silica coated Glass fiber
reinforced polymer (GFRP) flats had shown:
1.Good ductility of concrete and shear reinforcement have
shown failure at higher loads.
2.The strength of the composites, flats or bars depends upon
the fiber orientation and fiber to matrix ratio.
3.Concrete having higher fiber content would have higher
tensile strength.

Dr. P. Srinivasa Rao, et al [2] conducted durability

studies on glass fiber reinforced concrete. Concrete of
M30, M40 and M50 grade were used .The strength of
glass fiber reinforced concrete were compared with
ordinary concrete. Result obtained were:
The durability of concrete was increased by adding
alkali resistant glass fibers in the concrete.
The experimental study showed that addition of
glass fibers in concrete gives a reduction in
bleeding.
The addition of glass fibers had shown improvement
in the resistance of concrete to the attack of acids.

Yogesh Murthy, et al [3] studied the performance of

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete. Result obtained were:
The use of glass fiber in concrete not only improves
the properties of concrete and a small cost cutting
but also provide easy outlet to dispose the glass as
environmental waste from the industry.
From the study it could be revealed that the
flexural strength of the beam with 1.5% glass fiber
shows almost 30% increase in the strength.
The reduction in slump observed with the increase
in glass fiber content.

Avinash Gornale, et al [4] studied the strength aspect

of glass fiber reinforced concrete. M20, M30 and M40 grade
of concrete were used and cube were tested at 3, 7 and 28
days The result obtained were:
The increase in compressive strength, flexural
strength, split tensile strength were observed to be
20% to 30%, 25% to 30% and 25% to 30% respectively
after the addition of glass fibers as compared to the
plain concrete

Griffiths [5] conducted study to investigate the

mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polyester
polymer concrete. The result obtained were:
The modulus of rupture of polymer concrete
containing 20% polyester resin and about 79% fine
silica aggregate is about 20 MPa.
The addition of about 1.5% chopped glass fibers (by
weight) to the material increases the modulus of
rupture by about 20% and the fracture toughness
by about 55%.
Glass fibers improve the strength of the material by
increasing the force required for deformation
Glass Fiber improve the toughness by increasing the
energy required for crack propagation.

2007 Edition of Technical Report No. 65 [6] the use

of macro synthetic fiber does not have any significant
structural effect on the concrete, which would be expected
of traditional steel bar or fabric reinforcement
Richardson [7] suggested that a higher dosage of
polypropylene fibers would lower the compressive
strength.
Hasan, Afroz and Mahmud [8] found a mild increase in
compressive strength in relation to polypropylene fiber
content.
Richardson, Coventry and Landless [9] found no effect
on compressive strength by addition of polypropylene fiber
to record.

P. Rathish Kumar and K. Srikanth et at (2008) [10]

in Utilization Of Artificial Fibers In Construction
Industry observed that:
There was no considerable change in compressive
strength with optimum fiber addition but addition of
fiber is effective in split tensile and flexural
strength,
Glass fiber giving higher strength than
Polypropylene fibers.
The post peak strains are more for polypropylene
based specimens as compared to Glass fiber based
specimens, but they carry lower flexural strength

Vondran, G.L., Nagabhushanam, M.,

Ramakrishnam [11] in Fatigue Strength of
Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concretes observed
that:
There was an appreciable increase in post crack
energy absorption capacity and ductility due to the
addition of fibers.
Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concretes when
compared to plain concrete shows a significant
increase in flexural fatigue strength and the
endurance limit.

Cement: Physical Properties of O.P.C 43 Grade Birla

Uttam Cement
Value
As Per
Code

S.No

Parameters

Observed
Value

Normal consistency

30%

N.A

Initial setting time

120 minutes

> 30
minutes

Final setting time

215 minutes

< 600
minutes

Specific gravity

3.15

N.A

Compressive Strength at 3 days

25.2 N/mm2

22.55
N/mm2

Compressive Strength at 7 days

35.8 N/mm2

32.36
N/mm2

Compressive Strength at 28 days

45.1 N/mm2

42.17
N/mm2

Fine Aggregate: The fine aggregate used was locally

available river sand passed through 4.75mm IS sieve.
Characteristics

Observed Values

Grading Zone

II

Fineness modulus

2.73

Specific gravity (Sand)

2.60

Silt content

1.28%

Compressive Strength Test:

The cube specimen was placed in the machine, of

2000kN capacity.
The load was applied at a rate of approximately 140
kg/sq.cm/min until the resistance of the specimen to
the increasing load can be sustained.

Flexural Strength Test:

Formula used for Calculating Flexural Strength:

where, R is flexural strength (modulus of rupture), P is

maximum indicated load, L is span length, b is width of
specimen, and d is depth of the specimen

Split Tensile Strength test:

Formula used for Calculating Tensile Strength :

where, T is tensile strength, P is compression load at failure,

l is length of cylinder, and d is diameter of the cylinder.

The use of glass fiber and polypropylene fiber as an

ingredient in concrete has various advantages: light weight,
tight cracks, ease of use, safe handling, and rapid dispersion.

However, measuring the post-crack capacity of the fiberreinforced concrete section could compare the relative
performance of different fiber products. As a result,
comparing post-crack performance of glass fiber with
polypropylene fiber will reveal the differences in the way the
materials work.

Two purposes of test: first to compare the post-crack capacity

performance of the section And second to use the flexural
strength parameter resulted from beam tests of fiber
reinforced concrete.

The result will be presented later in next part of report.

[1]. A G. Jyothi Kumari, B P. Jagannadha Rao and C M. V.

Seshagiri Rao (2013), Behavior of concrete beams reinforced
with glass fiber reinforced polymer flats, international
journal of research in engineering and technology, Vol.2,
Issue 09.

[2]. A Dr. Srinivasa Rao, B Chandra Mouli K. and C Dr. T.

Seshadri Sekhar (2012), Durability studies on Glass Fiber
Reinforced Concrete, International Journal of civil
engineering science, vol.1, no-1-2.

[3]. A Yogesh Murthy, B Apoorv Sharda and C Gourav Jain

(2012), Performance of glass fiber reinforced concrete,
International journal of engineering and innovative
technology, vol.1, issue 6.

[4]. A Avinash Gornale, B S. Ibrahim Quadri and C Syed

Hussaini (2012), Strength aspect of Glass fiber reinforced
concrete, International journal of Scientific and Engineering
research, vol,3, issue 7.

[5]. Griffiths R. (2000). An assessment of the properties and

degradation behaviour of glass-fibre-reinforced polyester
polymer concrete. Composites Science and Technology
journal. pp. 2747-2753

[6]. Concrete Society. 2007. Technical Report No 65,

Guidance for the design of macro synthetic fibre reinforced
concrete.

[7]. Richardson, A. 2006. Compressive Strength of Concrete

with Propylene Fibre Additions. School of built environment,
Northumbria University, UK.

[8]. Hasan, M.J., Afroz, M. and Mahmud, H.M.I. 2011. An

Experimental Investigation on Mechanical Behaviour of Macro
Synthetic Fibre Reinforced Concrete. International Journal of
Civil and Environmental Engineering. Vol. 11. No. 3.

[9]. Richardson, A.E., Coventry, K. And Landless, S. 2010.

Synthetic and Steel Fibres in Concrete with Regard to
Equal Toughness, Structural Survey.

[10]. P. Rathish Kumar and K. Srikanth a Department of

Civil Engineering, NIT Warangal, India, (2008),
"Mechanical Characteristics Of Fibre Reinforced SelfCompacting Mortars" Asian journal of civil engineering
(building and housing) vol. 9, no. 6 (2008) pages 647-657

[11]. Vondran, G.L., Nagabhushanam, M., Ramakrisham,

V. Fatigue Strength of Polyprolyne Fiber Reinforced
Concretes Abstract Tech. File No. 2032.