Development of high strength hybrid fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composites using Silica Fumes, Polyvinyl Alcohol fibers and Steel fibers

To resist some seismic and earthquake calamities, the need for more tensile and flexural properties in high strength concrete is required. So, high strength concrete along with good ductility and bendability properties are required. Previous studies proved that polyvinyl alcohol fibers have good ductility and bendability properties and other materials like silica fumes and steel fibers played a vital role in improving the strength performance of mortar, especially the splitting tensile and the flexural strengths. This research aims to improve high strength to the concrete along with ductility and bendability by replacing fine aggregates in mortar with silica fumes of 10%, polyvinyl alcohol fibers (PVA) and steel fibers both fibers of 2%. The addition of silica fumes also reduces the cement content thereby improving sustainability. Mix design is done for various proportions of Polyvinyl Alcohol Fiber (PVA) and Steel Fiber as replacement of fine aggregate from (0.5 – 1.5) %. Specimens were cast, tested and compared in terms of compressive strength and flexural strength to the mortar. These tests were carried out to find out the mechanical properties of concrete such as workability, compressive strength and flexural strength after a curing period of 7days, 14days and 28days. Results showed that Polyvinyl Alcohol Fiber of 0.5% and Steel fiber of 1.5% is Partial Replacement of Fine aggregate makes a considerable increase in compressive strength and flexural strength.