Flexural Strength Enhancement of Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Members

The rapid construction of tall buildings and long span structures demands the use of sustainable material in cement composition. Therefore, sustainability of concrete can be achieved by reducing the raw materials of concrete and improving its mechanical properties when non-conventional and low-cost materials are added. The main parameter of this study is to investigate the potential of PPF in enhancing the flexural strength of concrete experimentally, and it is expressed by a parameter fiber index. Moreover, an analytical model was derived to predict the flexural strength of the PPFRC prisms/rectangular section. In the experimental study, fibrillated polypropylene fiber concrete mixtures of two different lengths (Lf) 20 and 6 mm of polypropylene fibers with added at 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% volume fractions (Vf) were prepared. Three-point bending tests were performed on beams of 100 × 100 mm cross section and length of 510 mm at 28 days standard curing. The final results of experimental test are substituted in this derived model for the determination of the flexural strength of PPFRC members. The flexural strength of PPFRC specimens increased as compared to plain concrete and has proven to reduce plastic waste in environment.