DEVELOPING A HYBRID FIBER REINFORCED SELF COMPACTED CONCRETE MIX USING STEEL AND BANANA FIBERS

Abstract

Hybrid fiber reinforced self compacted concrete (HFRSCC) is an innovative concrete which is able to flow under its own weight, filling the formwork completely, and achieving full compaction without vibration. The superior performance of Self Compacted Concrete in fresh and hardened is further enhanced by the addition of steel fibers (artificial) and banana fibers (natural). The hybrid combination of artificial fiber and natural fiber used in self compacted concrete enriches the overall performance and properties of the concrete batch. HFRSCC is basically a highly fluid mixture, best suited for placing in structures with congested reinforcement without vibration. It however, requires a good balance between deformabilility and stability of the batch. Compatibility is also affected by the fiber characteristics of banana fiber and steel fiber and their appropriate mix proportions. The objective of this study is to find out the optimum quantities of the steel and banana fibers in the concrete mix, which is able to achieve the maximum compressive and flexural strength for M30 & M40 grade concrete. In SCC use of two or more fiber in a suitable combination may potentially not only improve the overall property of SCC but may also result in performance synergy.