The effect of fibre diameter on the flexural behaviour of fibre reinforced cement concrete

The effect of fibre diameter on the strength and deformation potentiality of the flexural members of fibre reinforced cement concrete has been studied. Test were conducted on the cement fibre reinforced concrete members having fibres of 0.457mm(26SWG), 0.3759mm(28SWG) and 0.315mm(30SWG) diameter.Fibres of each diameter were used in three different percentages i.e. 0.5%, 0.75% &1.0% by volume of concrete in different sets of specimen. Three beams with each percentage of fibres of all the three diameters, were cast and tested after 28days of curing. Aspect ratio of fibres was kept as 100 through out in the present work. This study establishes that the load at first crack and at failure of fibre reinforced cement concrete members are increased and the deformation capacity at these loads is enhanced with the reduction of diameters of fibre. Apart from the significant improvement in flexural strength, there is an improvement in the workability of concrete also if the fibre diameter is reduced.