Experimental Investigation on Strength and Flexural Behaviour of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Using M40 Grade Concrete

Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials due to its high compressive strength and versatility. However, conventional concrete exhibits brittle behaviour and low tensile strength, which limits its performance under flexural loading. Fiber reinforcement has emerged as an effective method to enhance the mechanical properties and crack resistance of concrete. This study investigates the strength and flexural behaviour of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) using M40 grade concrete. Alkali-resistant glass fibers were incorporated at varying dosages of 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00% by volume of concrete. Fresh concrete properties were evaluated using slump tests, while hardened concrete properties were assessed through compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength tests at different curing ages. The experimental results indicated that the addition of glass fibers significantly improved tensile and flexural strength, while compressive strength showed marginal improvement. The optimum fiber dosage was observed at 0.75%, which provided the best overall performance in terms of strength and crack control. The study demonstrates that GFRC can be effectively used in structural applications where improved flexural performance and crack resistance are required.