The Effect and Adding of Polypropylene Fibers and Silica Fumes as Partial Replacement of Cement on Concrete

Abstract

Cement concrete is the most widely used construction material worldwide. According to a survey, the
production of concrete in one day globally equals the total concrete used in the Three Gorges Dam in China. The reason for its extensive use is its good workability and ability to be molded into any shape. Due to such extensive use of concrete in the construction industry, modifications in traditional cement concrete have become mandatory. So, we have to look for some alternate materials having the potential to be used as a replacement for Cement. Polypropylene Fibers and Silica Fumes are two of those ingredients that can be utilized in place of cement to produce the concrete. In this paper, the effect of replacement of cement with Silica fumes on the compressive strength of concrete was assessed by replacing in 3 different ratios of 5, 10, and 15% and addition of fibers in concrete. Experimental work showed that with increase in percentage replacement of cement over silica fumes in concrete, there was increase in compressive strength of concrete. The 28-days compressive strength of 15% silica fumes decreased. In case of addition of polypropylene fibers, 28-days tensile strength increased up to 0.4% addition. Flexure Strength is also increased by the addition of
Polypropylene fibers.