PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION APPLICATION
Keywords:
Prestressed concrete I-beams, Polypropylene fibers, Fiber-reinforced concrete, Sustainable construction, Compressive strength, Flexural behavior, Cyclic loading, Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP).Abstract
Prestressed concrete I-beams are highly efficient but remain susceptible to cracking and brittle failure under excessive loading. Polypropylene (PP) fiber reinforcement offers an effective, eco-friendly solution to control crack propagation and enhance structural ductility due to its corrosion resistance, chemical stability, and low environmental footprint.
This research investigates the performance enhancement of fiber-reinforced concrete for sustainable construction applications, specifically focusing on the structural behavior of prestressed concrete I-beams using an integrated experimental, numerical, and microstructural approach. Full-scale specimens with PP fiber volume fractions of 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.6% were subjected to cyclic flexural loading alongside compressive strength testing to evaluate key parameters, including compressive performance, load-deflection behavior, cracking, and energy absorption. Furthermore, microstructural characterization via Scanning Electron Microscopy was conducted to analyze fiber–matrix interactions and crack-bridging mechanisms. The study is expected to demonstrate that PP fibers significantly enhance the compressive strength, ductility, crack resistance, and post-cracking performance of prestressed concrete elements. The validated numerical models provide an efficient predictive tool that reduces the need for extensive physical testing while offering valuable design guidance for durable, sustainable, and high-performance infrastructure.
