Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 13(3A), pp. 2301 - 2313
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2025.131310
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Experimental Investigation on the Residual Compressive Strength of Metallic and Non-Metallic Fibers in Reinforced Concrete at Elevated Temperature

S. Vijaya Kumar ^1,*, Mvss Sastri ¹, S. Pallavi Charitha ^2
1 Department of Civil Engineering, Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
² Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, Telangana, India

ABSTRACT

Fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) has garnered considerable attention from researchers due to its superior performance relative to conventional concrete. This study conducted an experimental investigation into the thermal behaviour and temperature-dependent mechanical properties of concrete reinforced with polypropylene, steel, and hybrid (steel + polypropylene) fibres. The research assessed the influence of these fibres, in specific proportions, on the strength characteristics and material properties under varying temperature conditions. Concrete samples with fibre contents of 0%, 1%, and 2% by volume were prepared and subjected to compression tests both prior to and following exposure to decomposition temperatures, as determined through thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The results indicated that steel fibre reinforcement significantly enhanced compressive strength, with increases of 28.13% and 46.94% for 1% and 2% fibre contents, respectively. Polypropylene fibres slightly reduced compressive strength, while hybrid fibre reinforcement yielded mixed results contingent on fibre content. Thermal treatment generally resulted in increased compressive strength across all samples. Plain concrete exhibited a 6.98% strength increase post-heating. Steel fibre-reinforced concrete demonstrated the most substantial improvements, with strength increases of 15.06% and 8.14% for 1% and 2% reinforcement, respectively. Polypropylene and hybrid fibre concretes exhibited moderate strength increases following heating. The study illustrates that fibre-reinforced concrete, particularly with steel fibres, can markedly enhance the mechanical properties and thermal resistance of concrete. This has significant implications for improving the safety and durability of critical industrial structures frequently exposed to high temperatures. The findings offer valuable insights optimizing fibre-reinforced concrete in various structural applications under different reinforcement levels and heating conditions. Further research on the microstructural changes and long-term performance of FRC at elevated temperatures is recommended.

KEYWORDS
Polypropylene Fibre, Steel Fibre, Super Plasticizer, TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis), DTA (Differential Thermal Analysis)

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] S. Vijaya Kumar , Mvss Sastri , S. Pallavi Charitha , "Experimental Investigation on the Residual Compressive Strength of Metallic and Non-Metallic Fibers in Reinforced Concrete at Elevated Temperature," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 13, No. 3A, pp. 2301 - 2313, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2025.131310.

(b). APA Format:
S. Vijaya Kumar , Mvss Sastri , S. Pallavi Charitha (2025). Experimental Investigation on the Residual Compressive Strength of Metallic and Non-Metallic Fibers in Reinforced Concrete at Elevated Temperature. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 13(3A), 2301 - 2313. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2025.131310.