Experimental study on glass fibre reinforced concrete

Abstract: This study investigated the enhancement of peach shell lightweight concrete through glass and nylon fiber reinforcement at varying percentages (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by cement weight). The fiber addition resulted in a 6.6% reduction in density while significantly improving mechanical properties, with compressive strength increasing by 10.20%, split tensile strength by 60.1%, and flexural strength by 63.49%. Optimal compressive strength was achieved at 6% fiber content, while maximum split tensile and flexural strengths occurred at 8% fiber addition. Research on concrete curing methods demonstrates that steam curing at temperatures between 45°C and 80°C within 24-hour cycles produces superior concrete properties compared to normal curing, particularly for achieving high early strength in precast applications using PC42.5 cement. However, temperatures exceeding 80°C negatively impact performance. The combination of agricultural waste utilization through peach shells and synthetic fiber reinforcement, coupled with optimized curing regimes, presents a promising approach for developing lightweight concrete with enhanced mechanical characteristics suitable for diverse construction applications while promoting sustainable materials usage.

Keywords: glass fibre reinforced concrete, steam curing and normal curing.