A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POLYPROPYLENE FIBER REINFORCED SILICA FUME CONCRETE OF GRADE M40

Abstract

This research paper presents an experimental framework for evaluating M40 grade concrete modified with silica fume and polypropylene (PP) fibers. The study is designed to compare conventional M40 concrete with concrete containing silica fume and different polypropylene-fiber dosages, with emphasis on workability, compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, density and durability-related indicators. Silica fume is a highly reactive supplementary cementitious material that can refine the pore structure and improve the paste–aggregate interface, while polypropylene fibers provide distributed reinforcement and can control microcracking and improve post-cracking behaviour. The combined use of the two materials is therefore expected to produce a concrete matrix with improved mechanical and service-performance characteristics, although excessive fiber dosage may reduce workability and cause fiber balling or inadequate compaction.

The proposed investigation uses M40 concrete as the reference grade and compares a control mix with mixes containing a selected silica-fume replacement level and several polypropylene-fiber volume fractions. Mix proportioning should be performed using IS 10262:2019, aggregate requirements should follow IS 383:2016, and concrete strength testing should follow the applicable Indian Standards. Published experimental literature has reported beneficial long-term strength and water-absorption behaviour from combined silica fume and polypropylene fiber systems, but the optimum dosage depends on constituent materials, water-to-binder ratio, fiber geometry, curing and mixing procedure. Consequently, this paper does not treat illustrative numerical values as actual laboratory results. A complete test matrix, calculation procedure, result-sheet templates, statistical analysis method and discussion framework are provided so that measured laboratory data can be inserted without changing the scientific structure of the paper.