Performance Assessment of Hybrid Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete for Rigid Pavement Structures

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fiber reinforcement on the mechanical strength and energy absorption capacity of concrete under varying watert/cement(w/c) ratios and aggregate gradations, using commercially available sikafiber and polimono fibers. Using the Taguchi method, four levels of w/c ratio, fiber content and gradation were optimized. When only sikafiber was used, compressive strength increased by 4% and flexural strength by 9.2%. With polimono fiber, increases of 3.3% and 7.3% were observed, respectively. The combined use of both fibers resulted in a 7.5% increase in compressive strength and a 43% increase in flexural strength. Increasing fiber content improved the energy absorption capacity by 173.957%. Fiber addition reduced the brittleness of concrete and enhanced its ductility, thereby improving structural performance. These findings indicate that fiber-reinforced concretes are an effective option for structural applications requiring enhanced strength and durability.