Investigation of the Effects of Polymer on the Compressive Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Mahdi faramarzi¹ Mohsen mousivand² Aydin Seyyedi³

1) M.Sc. in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering), Islamic Azad University, Gonbad Kavous Branch Email:
2) Head of Structural Engineering Department Department of Civil Engineering, Gonbad Kavous Branch Islamic Azad University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran Email:
3) M.Sc. in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering), Islamic Azad University, Gonbad Kavous Branch Email:

Publication : The 5th International Conference on Seismic Retrofitting and the International Conference on New Technologies in Civil, Architectural and Urban Engineering(5icst.ir)
Abstract :
In this study, the combined effects of polypropylene (PP) fibers and acrylic resin as a polymeric admixture on the compressive strength of concrete were investigated. The objective was to optimize the mechanical performance of concrete through the appropriate selection of these two components, and to examine the influence of the water-to-cement (w/c) ratio as a key parameter affecting concrete behavior. Standard cubic specimens were prepared with three w/c ratios (0.4, 0.5, and 0.55), various PP fiber contents (ranging from 0.2% to 1.2%), and different percentages of acrylic resin (3%, 5%, and 7%). The compressive strength of the specimens was evaluated at 7, 14, and 28 days. The results demonstrated that reducing the w/c ratio enhanced compressive strength but negatively affected the workability of the concrete mix. A w/c ratio of 0.5 was identified as the optimal value, offering a balance between strength and workability. Moreover, the addition of 0.4% PP fibers significantly improved the 28-day compressive strength. The combination of 0.4% PP fibers with 3% acrylic resin yielded the greatest improvement, resulting in a 26.6% increase in compressive strength compared to the control specimens. This enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effect between fiber reinforcement and the improved matrix bonding provided by the polymeric admixture. Overall, the findings suggest that the combined use of PP fibers and acrylic resin, at optimized dosages, provides an effective strategy for enhancing the compressive strength and performance of concrete, with promising implications for structural applications.
Keywords : Concrete polypropylene fibers acrylic resin compressive strength water-to-cement ratio polymeric admixture