Mechanical properties of kevlar and jute fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract

Concrete, due to its inherent brittleness, exhibits relatively low tensile strength. Fibers have been used extensively to improve their mechanical properties as they helped to reduce the crack width. Textile industries produce a lot of natural and synthetic fiber waste, which can be utilized to produce better-performing fiber-reinforced concrete. Therefore, in this study, a detailed experimental investigation has been carried out to study the compressive, tensile, and flexural properties of the Kevlar and jute fiber reinforced concrete. Concrete specimens with a mix design ratio of 1:1.43:1.89 and a water-cement ratio of 0.6 were cast. Jute fibers with lengths of 10 mm, 15 mm, and 25 mm and three different concentrations of 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5% by volume of concrete were used. In contrast, Kevlar fibers with lengths of 10 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm and three different concentrations of 1%, 1.5%, and 2.5% by volume of concrete were used. It was found that both Kevlar and Jute fibers contributed positively to- wards controlling the crack initiation and propagation, suggesting using fibers in concrete for enhanced mechanical properties and performance.