Evaluation of Pozzolana’s Impact on Fibre Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

High-performance concrete is a specialized type of concrete that surpasses typical performance standards in terms of strength, flowability, and durability. While high-strength concrete is considered high-performance, the reverse is not always true. Achieving durability in concrete is challenging, and specifying high strength does not guarantee durability. To produce high-performance concrete, additional materials such as Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag (GGBS), silica fume, Rice husk ash, Fly ash, and High Reactive Metakaolin can be used as partial replacements for cement. We conducted XRD tests on these materials to analyze their constituent variations. Maintaining an optimal water-cement ratio is crucial, and superplasticizers, water-reducing admixtures, play a vital role in achieving this. In our project, we tested materials like rice husk ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and silica fume to meet our desired requirements. We also performed X-ray diffraction tests on various pozzolanic materials to analyze their ingredient content. Synthetic fiber (Recron fiber) was incorporated at different percentages in the concrete mixture, and casting was carried out. Additionally, different percentages of silica fume were used as a cement replacement while keeping the fiber content constant. Two types of cement, Portland slag cement and ordinary Portland cement, were utilized. We prepared mortar, cubes, cylinders, and prisms for testing, including compressive, splitting, and flexural tests. Finally, porosity and permeability tests were conducted. Achieving the desired properties of high-performance concrete requires numerous trial mixes to select the optimal combination of materials.