Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology

ISSN:
© Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2013
Submitted: Accepted: Published:

Experimental Study on the Behaviour of Glass Fiber Concrete

1
S. Govindarajan and 2K. L. Muthuramu
1
Department of Civil Engineering, N. P. R. College of Engineering and Technology, Natham,
Dindigul-624401,
2
Shanmuganathan Engineering College, Arasampatti, Pudukkottai District-622507, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract: Our aim tostudy the behaviour Glass Fibre Concrete with the ratio of (1 to 5%) by volume of fraction and
study the mechanical properties of concrete by carrying compressive strength, flexural strength test and splitting
tensile strength test. Many methods have recommended for mix proportioning of concrete all over the world. Among
those methods, ACI method was selected for our project.

Keywords: Floating table test, glass fibers, slump test, strength properties, super plasticizer

INTRODUCTION Table 1: Mix proportions

Cement, Fine aggregate, Coarse Water,
kg/m3 kg/m3 aggregate, kg/m3 kg/m3
Alkali Resistant Glass Fiber is a recent introduction 458 641 1016 165
in making fibrous concrete. Glass fiber which is
originally used in conjunction with cement was found to Fine aggregate: All normal concreting sands are
be affected by alkaline condition of cement. Therefore suitable for GRC. Either crushed or rounded sands can
Gobain Vetrotex (2002) alkaline Resistant Fiber has be used. River sand was used as fine aggregate. The
been developed and used. Experiments have been specific gravity was 2.606.
carried out by several authors using fibers of glass,
carbon, asbestos, polypropylene etc. Heurik and Victor Coarse aggregate: All types of aggregates are suitable.
(2004) have outlined the classification and structural The normal maximum size of aggregate is generally
applications of composite materials. Majumdar and 16mm to 20 mm. Consistency of grading is vital
Laws (1991) has worked on the development of fiber importance. Crushed angular granite metal from a local
reinforced cements. Sivakumar and Santhanam (2007) source was used as coarse aggregate. The specific
have studied the properties of FRC using high gravity was 2.76.
percentage dosages of hybrid fiber like steel, glass and
polypropylene. Water: Water of good quality was used throughout.
Commercially available fibers include Aramid,
Glass and carbon. Most research activities concentrated Admixtures: Admixtures are materials other than
on glass FRP (GFRP) owing to their lower cost Mota cement, aggregate and water that are added to concrete
et al. (2006). In the present experimental study on the either before or during its mixing to improve its
behavior of Glass fiber concrete with the ratio of (1 to properties, such as workability, curing temperature
5%) by volume of fraction and study the mechanical range, setting time or color. We are using super
properties of concrete by carrying compressive strength, plasticizers (high range water reducers), are used to
flexural strength test and splitting tensile strength increase workability of concrete and to reduce water
test.Many methods have recommended for mix content. The super plasticizers namely Sulphonated
proportioning of concrete all over the world. Among Naphthalene-Formaldehyde condensates (SNF) was
those methods, ACI method was selected for our project. used in our study. From the marsh cone test optimum
dosage of super plasticizers to mix was found out
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (Table 1).

Materials: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Cement: Ordinary Portland cement of 53 grades
available in local market is used in the investigation. Workability of fresh concrete:
The specific gravity was 3.02 and the fineness was 3200 Slump cone test: Slump Test is the most commonly
cm2/gm. used method of measuring consistency of concrete

Corresponding Author: S. Govindarajan, Department of Civil Engineering, N. P. R. College of Engineering and

Technology, Natham, Dindigul -624401,Tamilnadu, India
1
 Res. J. App. Sci. Eng. Technol.,

measured and the flow is related to workability. By

experiment, it is found out as 14%. The floating table
test are shown in Fig.2.

Strength of harden concrete:

Cube compressive strength of glass fiber: The cube
testing was done by placing flat pads both top and
bottom in compression testing machine. Ultimate load
was noted and compressive strength calculated was
Fig. 1: Slump cone test present in Table 2.

Split tensile strength of glass fiber: The cylinder was

placed in universal testing machine such that the load
was perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder and the
load at which the cylinder split was noted and the
tensile strength was calculated and the result are shown
in Table 3.

Flexural strength of glass fiber: The flexural strength

Fig. 2: Flow test was obtained by applying the load by the equal
concentrated load at one third of the beam. The beam
Table 2: Compressive strength test result was simply supported. Testing was done in UTM and
@ 7 days @ 28 days the ultimate load was noted and the moduli of rupture
S.No. Types of fibers (N/mm2) (N/mm2)
1 Plain cement concrete 15.6 51.28 values are shown in Table 4.
2 1% Of gfrc 28.44 74.57
3 2% Of gfrc 21.6 62.22 CONCLUSION
4 3% Of gfrc 20.26 60.08
5 4% Of gfrc 18.22 53.6
6 5% Of gfrc 17.68 51.28 Based on the results of this experimental
investigation the following conclusions are drawn, A
Table 3: Split tensile strength test result
detailed analysis of compressive strength, flexural
@ 7 days @ 28 days
S.No. Types of fibers (N/mm2) (N/mm2) strength and tensile strength of concrete mixed with
1 Plain cement concrete 1.67 5.008 glass fibres is done. The results are taken after 28 days
2 1% Of gfrc 2.63 7.92 of curing.The percentage increase of compressive
3 2% Of gfrc 1.98 6.168
4 3% Of gfrc 1.78 5.404 strength of glass fiber concrete with 28 days
5 4% Of gfrc 1.56 4.69 compressive strength is 45.41%. The percentage
6 5% Of gfrc 1.49 4.44 increase of flexural and split tensile strength of glass
Table 4: Flexural strength test result
fiber concrete with 28 days strength is 9.69 and
@ 7 days @ 28 days 58.14%. Based in the above observation it has been
S.No. Types of fibers (N/mm2) (N/mm2) formed that the maximum optimum value is obtained
1 Plain cement concrete 3.26 9.18 from 0 to 1%. The addition of glass fiber in concrete
2 1% Of gfrc 5.33 10.07
3 2% Of gfrc 3.85 8.29 will increased the workability.
4 3% Of gfrc 3.55 7.7
5 4% Of gfrc 3.26 6.81 REFERENCES
6 5% Of gfrc 2.67 6.22

which can be employed either in laboratory or at site of Heurik, S. and Victor C, Li. 2004. Classification of
work. It is used conveniently as a control test and gives fiber reinforcedcementitious materials for
an indication of uniformity of concrete from batch to structural application.Proceeding of the 6th Rilem
batch. Slump value from the experiment is found as 45 Symposium on FRC. September 20-22,Varenna,
mm to 50 mm. The slump cone test are shown in Fig.1. Italy, pp: 197-218.
Gobain Vetrotex, C.F., 2002. Why Alkaline Resistant
Floating table test: This is a laboratory test, which Glass Fibers in Technical Data Sheets.
gives an indication of the quality of concrete with Majumdar, A.J. andV. Laws, 1991. Building Research
respect to consistency, cohesiveness and proneness to Establishment Book on Glass Fiber Reinforced
segregation. In this test, a standard mass of concrete is Cement.2ndEdn., BSP Professional,Oxbord,
subjected jolting. The spread or flow of concrete is Boston.
2
 Res. J. App. Sci. Eng. Technol.,

Mota,C., S.Almina and D.Svecova, 2006. Critical Sivakumar, A.and M. Santhanam, 2007. Mechanical
review of deflection formulas for FRP-RC properties of high strength concrete reinforced with
members. J. Composit. Construct., 10(3): 183-194. metallic and non-metallic fibers. Cement Concrete
Composit.,29: 603-608.