Enhancing concrete performance at high temperatures through polypropylene fiber geometry optimization

Abstract

This article has explored the optimization of polypropylene fiber dosage and geometry to enhance the thermal stability of high-performance concrete under fire exposure. In this study, experimental investigations have been carried out on plain concrete and polypropylene fibre-reinforced concrete (PFRC) at higher temperatures. The study has been performed at different temperatures, including ambient temperature and temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 1000 °C. Visual inspection, mass loss, mechanical properties, non-destructive testing, and microstructural analyses have been conducted on plain concrete and PFRC specimens. It has been found that the impact of polypropylene fibres in concrete has become more significant when exposed to higher temperatures. The findings indicate that selecting an optimum length and dosage of fibers has been necessary to prevent concrete spalling. Additionally, the diameter of PP fibers has been found to have no notable impact on preventing spalling. This research has also examined the effectiveness of adding Macro fiber polypropylene of length 24mm to the concrete. The effect of adding PP fibres in concrete has been analyzed while assessing mass loss, compressive strength, tensile and flexural strength, and UPV values at higher temperatures.