Effect of pozzolanic materials on mechanical properties and aging of glass fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract

Glass fibers have shown to improve the mechanical properties of concrete as tensile strength and flexural strength. However, it has been shown that these fibers tend to corrode with concrete aging to affect glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) properties in an adverse manner. To prevent glass fiber corrosion in concrete environment, different percentages of pozzolanic materials were used in this study. It was found that the glass fibers inclusion would lead to partial reduction in concrete compressive strength. Modulus of rupture and toughness index were observed to improve greatly as a result of reinforcing concrete with glass fibers. Moreover, inclusion of nanosilica and metakaolin was found to prevent declines in concrete toughness and modulus of rupture with aging. Investigation of the pozzolanic contribution to modulus of rupture in GFRC revealed that the specific strength of cement declined within 7–90 days. This is while the specific strength of pozzolanic effect increased with time.