Investigate the Compressive Performance of fiber Reinforced Concrete

This experimental investigation aims to evaluate the compressive strength of fiber reinforced concrete using cube specimens cast with different types of fibers. A total of 12 cube specimens, each measuring 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm, were prepared using M25 grade concrete. The mixes included a control group with no fibers and three fiber-reinforced groups incorporating 0.15% polypropylene fibers (PF), 1% basalt fibers (BF), and 1.5% steel fibers (SF), respectively. All specimens were subjected to standard curing for 28 days before being tested under axial compression using a Compression Testing Machine (CTM) with a load capacity of 2000 kN. Compared to the control mix, polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete showed an approximate strength reduction of 7.65%, basalt fiber mix exhibited a slight decrease of about 2.47%, while steel fiber-reinforced concrete showed a strength increase of around 3.85%. The compressive strength test results indicate that concrete containing 1.5% steel fibers achieved the highest strength among all the mixes. The superior performance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete can be attributed to the high tensile strength and ductility of steel fibers, which effectively bridge micro-cracks and enhance the post-cracking behavior of the concrete matrix. These findings demonstrate that the inclusion of steel fibers significantly improves the compressive strength of concrete, making it a viable option for applications requiring enhanced mechanical performance.