Optimal Ratio of Steel and Polyester Fibers on the Mechanical Behavior of Alkali-Activated Concrete Produced by Industrial Waste Minerals

Abstract

Alkali Activation Concretes (AAC) have many superior properties compared to Ordinary Portland Cement Concrete (OPC). However, it shows traditional concrete behavior with its brittleness. In this case, the tensile strength and flexural strength which are weak in addition to ductility is being studied to be increased by using various artificial and natural fibers. In this context, it is inevitable to conduct multifaceted research to improve the behavior of Fiber Alkali Activated Concrete (FAAC). In this study, 13 different mixes were made using steel and polyester fibers in different proportions by volume (0%; 0.25%; 0.50%; 0.75%; 1%) separately and hybrid. The mechanical properties of cubic (150 × 150 × 150 mm), cylindirical (100 × 200 mm) and prismatic (150 × 150 × 600 mm) specimens were determined including compressive strength, modulus of elasticity and poison ratio, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength (toughness-energy absorption capacity and modulus of rupture). crack formation in concrete occurs early and a significant decrease in strength is observed due to the high flexibility and low flow resistance of polyester fibers. Steel fibers with high strength and higher yield strength were used in hybrid form to solve this problem. It was revealed that the blend ratio that contributed the most to the mechanical behavior of the specimens was the case where the fibers were used as hybrid at a ratio of 1% by volume evaluation from both the experimental results and the optimization. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shiraz University 2024.