The Effect of Long Plastic Fiber Variations on Strong Concrete Pressure

Abstract

This research investigates the effect of long plastic fiber variations on the compressive strength of concrete. While plastic fibers are often incorporated into concrete to enhance its tensile strength, ductility, and post-crack behavior, their impact on compressive strength is a critical design consideration. This study focuses specifically on how the length of these fibers influences the concrete's primary mechanical properties. An experimental laboratory methodology was employed. Several concrete mix designs were prepared: a plain concrete control mix (0% fiber) and multiple fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) mixes. These FRC mixes utilized a constant dosage of recycled plastic fibers, but with varying lengths (e.g., 40 mm, 60 mm, and 80 mm). Standardized cube specimens were cast for each variation and cured for 28 days before being tested for compressive strength. The results indicate that the addition of plastic fibers tends to cause a slight reduction in compressive strength compared to the plain concrete control. This reduction was observed to be more significant as the fiber length increased, which is attributed to the fibers' tendency to create voids and interfere with compaction and uniform dispersion. This study concludes that while long plastic fibers are beneficial for other properties, their length must be optimized to minimize the trade-off in compressive strength.