EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYPROPYLENE FIBRE INCORPORATED CONCRETE WITH SILICA FUME

Efforts for improving the performance of concrete over the past few years suggest that cement replacement materials along with mineral & chemical admixtures can improve the strength characteristics of concrete. Mineral admixtures include fly ash, hydrated lime, silica fume and ground blast furnace slag. Many of these materials have cement-like properties, augmenting the strength and density of the finished concrete. Silica fume can be utilized to produce high strength and durable concrete composites. Polypropylene fibres help control shrinkage cracking and provide some impact resistance. The addition of Polypropylene fibre by the weight of concrete shows an increase strength property and Silica fume as cement replacement material shows early long term strength. The main of this investigation is to determine the compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength of M20 grade concrete with use of polypropylene fibre and silica fume. The compressive strength is determined at 7, 14 and 28 days as well as tensile strength and flexural strength. The Concrete specimens were cured on normal moist curing under normal atmospheric temperature. The utilization of productive silica fume with polypropylene fiber will increases the strength characteristics in concrete.