CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1.1

BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Concrete is a composite material containing hydraulic cement, water, coarse aggregate

and fine aggregate. The resulting material is a stone-like structure which is formed by the
chemical reaction of the cement and water. This stone like material is a brittle material which is
strong in compression but very weak in tension. This weakness in the concrete makes it to crack
under small loads, at the tensile end. These cracks gradually propagate to the compression end of
the member and finally, the member breaks. The formation of cracks in the concrete may also
occur due to the drying shrinkage. These cracks are basically micro cracks. These cracks increase
in size and magnitude as the time elapses and they finally make the concrete to fail.
(Thilagavathi et al., 2014)
The formation of cracks is the main reason for the failure of the concrete. To increase the
tensile strength of concrete many attempts have been made. One of the successful and most
commonly used method is providing steel reinforcement. Steel bars, however, reinforce concrete
against local tension only. Cracks in reinforced concrete members extend freely until they
encounter steel bars. Thus need for multidirectional and closely spaced steel reinforcement
arises. That cannot be practice call possible. Fibre reinforcement gives the solution to this
problem
So to increase the tensile strength of concrete a technique of introduction of fibres in concrete is
being used. These fibres act as crack arrestors and prevent the propagation of the cracks (glass,
carbon, steel, natural, sisal. Etc.).

These fibres are uniformly distributed and randomly arranged. This concrete is named as
fibre reinforced concrete. The main reasons for adding fibres to concrete matrix is to improve the
post cracking response of the concrete, i.e., to improve its energy absorption capacity and
apparent ductility, and to provide crack resistance and crack control. Also, it helps to maintain
structural integrity and cohesiveness in the material. The initial researches combined with the
large volume of follow up research have led to the development of a wide variety of material
formulations that fit the definition of Fibre Reinforced Concrete. (Rajalakshmi et al., 2014)
The use of fibres to increase the structural properties of construction materials is not a
new process. From ancient times, Fibres were being used in construction. In Egypt, horse hair
was used to reinforce mortar. Egyptians used straw in mud bricks to provide additional strength.
Asbestos was used in the concrete in the early 19th century, to protect it from formation of
cracks. But in the late 19th century, due to increased structural importance, introduction of steel
reinforcement in concrete was made, by which the concept of fibre reinforced concrete was over
looked for 5-6 decades. Later in 1939, the introduction of steel replacing asbestos was made for
the first time. But at that period it was not successful. From 1960, there was a tremendous
development in the fibre reinforced concrete, mainly by the introduction of steel fibres. Since
then use of different types of fibres in concrete was made. In the 1970s, principles were
developed on the working of the fibre reinforced concrete. Later in the 1980s, a certified process
was developed for the use of fibre reinforced concrete. In the last decade, codes regarding the
fibre reinforced concrete have been undergoing development. (Ramya et al., 2014)
1.2

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Reinforcing schemes are generally designed to resist tensile stresses in the tension zone

of reinforced concrete sections which causes unacceptable cracking. Cracking of the concrete

section is nearly impossible to prevent and can allow moisture to penetrate and corrode the
reinforcement. This is a serviceability failure in limit state design. Cracking is normally the result
of an inadequate quantity of rebar, or rebar spaced at too great a distance just as we currently
have in most reinforced concrete elements, especially slabs and beams. The concrete cracks
either under excess loading, or due to internal effects such as early thermal shrinkage while it
cures. Limiting cracking in reinforced concrete elements has become a major center of focus in
recent times in structural engineering studies. This problem has greatly necessitated this study in
order to explore the option of using structural fibres (sisal and glass) to limit the occurrence of
cracks in reinforced concrete beams.
1.3

AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aims and objectives of this study is to develop concrete mixes reinforced with glass and
sisal fibres and thus to investigate the engineering properties of the resulting glass fibre
reinforced concrete (GRFC) and sisal fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC). Also, to make a
comparison between the fibres with regards to their performance in the concrete matrix
after undergoing the required tests.
Specific Objectives:
i.
ii.
iii.

To evaluate the compressive strength of concrete reinforced with glass fibre.

To evaluate the compressive strength of concrete reinforced with sisal fibre.
To evaluate the compressive strength of concrete not reinforced with fibre (mass

iv.
v.
vi.
vii.

concrete).
To evaluate the split tensile strength of concrete reinforced with glass fibre.
To evaluate the split tensile strength of concrete reinforced with sisal fibre.
To evaluate the split tensile strength of concrete not reinforced with fibre (mass concrete).
To compare the compressive strength of concrete reinforced with glass fibre to that
reinforced with sisal fibre.

viii.

To compare the tensile strength of concrete reinforced with glass fibre to that reinforced

ix.

with sisal fibre.

To compare the compressive and tensile strengths of concrete not reinforced with glass or

x.

sisal fibre (that is, mass concrete) to that reinforced with the two fibres.
To establish the physical properties of constituents (cement, fine aggregate, coarse
aggregate and fibre).

1.4

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

1. The essence of this study is to highlight the variations that would occur in the
compressive strength and split tensile strength when the conventional steel bars in
reinforced concrete are replaced with glass fibre and sisal fibre bars.
2. The study is meant to highlight the benefits / limitations of glass fibre and sisal fibre in
concrete structures with regards to compressive and tensile strengths, thereby establishing
the necessity or otherwise of incorporating fibre reinforced concrete in construction
works.
3. Its conclusions and recommendations should give insight to structural engineers in order
to know the suitability of fibre reinforced concrete for use in design of structures.
4. This research attempts to provide a long-lasting solution to the problem of occurrence of
structural cracks in concrete structures by the use of environmentally friendly material
such as glass and sisal fibres.
5. Finally, this work is expected to contribute significantly to existing literature in the
subject under consideration.

1.5

SCOPE OF STUDY

This work is strictly limited to evaluating and studying the quality of the results obtained
from the compressive and split tensile strength of fibre reinforced concrete and the mass
concrete and it does not includes the evaluation of reinforced concrete. Also, the workability of
the concrete was determined by carrying out some tests such as Slump Test and compacting
factor test on the concrete,

1.6

LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

The major limitation to this study was financial. Other fibres such as carbon and kelvar fibres
would have been used for the study but for the high cost of obtaining the fibres with the scare
resources available for use.