Comparative study on self-compacting concrete reinforced with different chopped fibers

The development of self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a revolutionary landmark in the history of the construction industry. Incorporation of fibres further enhances the properties, especially those related to the post-crack behaviour of SCC. The fibres used in the study are 12 mm long chopped glass fibre, carbon fibre and basalt fibre. The volume fractions of fibre taken are 0·0, 0·1, 0·15, 0·2, 0·25 and 0·3%. The research comprised two stages: the first stage consisted of the development of an SCC mix design of M30 grade; in the second stage, different fibres, such as glass, basalt and carbon fibres, were added to the SCC mixes and their fresh and hardened properties were determined and compared. Carbon fibre-reinforced SCC (FRSCC) exhibited the best performance followed by basalt FRSCC and glass FRSCC in the hardened state, whereas it exhibited the poorest performance in the fresh state due to its high water absorption. Glass FRSCC exhibited the best performance in the fresh state. This study concludes that, in terms of overall performance, optimum dosage and cost, basalt fibre is the best option for improving the overall quality of SCC.