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Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Study

The document presents a case study on glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC), focusing on its mechanical properties, durability, and microstructure analysis. It highlights significant improvements in compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths with the incorporation of glass fibers, as well as enhanced resistance to environmental degradation. The study also discusses the environmental and economic benefits of using glass fibers in construction, including reduced costs and minimized industrial waste.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
9 views22 pages

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Study

The document presents a case study on glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC), focusing on its mechanical properties, durability, and microstructure analysis. It highlights significant improvements in compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths with the incorporation of glass fibers, as well as enhanced resistance to environmental degradation. The study also discusses the environmental and economic benefits of using glass fibers in construction, including reduced costs and minimized industrial waste.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY CAVITE it

GLASS FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE: AN OVERVIEW ON

MECHANICAL, DURABILITY AND MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS

Case Study

Submitted to the Faculty of the

College of Engineering, Computer Studies, and Architecture

Lyceum of the Philippines University Cavite

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Gabac, Jeaceigth A.

Gaddi, Karl Gabriel B.

Lunes, Jimae M.

Rufo, Sebastian Miguel V.

Salazar John Loyd D.

Saturnino, Yoj Francheska

Solis, Jules Richard T.

JUNE 2024

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College of Engineering, Computer Studies and Architecture

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Abstract

GLASS FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE: AN OVERVIEW ON

MECHANICAL, DURABILITY AND MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS

Jawad Ahmad1 ,Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano2 ,Ali Majdi3 ,Nabil Ben Kahla4

,Ahmed Farouk Deifalla5 andMohammed A. El-Shorbagy6

The research provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanical properties,

durability, and microstructure of glass fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC). It highlights

significant improvements in compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths with the

incorporation of glass fibers, alongside enhanced resistance to environmental

degradation. The study also explores the microstructural interactions between glass fibers

and the cement matrix, revealing a strong bond that contributes to the material's improved

performance. Additionally, it discusses the environmental and economic benefits of using

glass fibers, which include reducing construction costs and minimizing industrial waste​

Keywords: Glass Fibers; compressive strength, durability; scanning electron microscopy

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

INTRODUCTION 3

METHODOLOGY 5

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 6

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 7

REFERENCES 8

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INTRODUCTION

One of the world’s most rapidly growing sectors is the Construction Industry, with

concrete as its pivotal role in its success. Concrete, a widely applied construction

material, is greatly valued for its malleable and flowable nature when it's tampered with

water that transforms it into a tough durable substance once it dries. This unique

combination of properties makes concrete the most frequent building material globally.

However, concrete itself has several features that are unsettling such as brittleness, poor

fracture resistance, low impact resistance and high weight. These limitations resonated

among the world that results to enhance its materials’ properties.

Concrete in its conventional form exhibits significant compression strength which

ironically falls short for its tensile strength. To address these, steel bars are often used to

compensate for the tension zones resulting from reinforced concrete. An alternative

approach involves adding fibers into the concrete mix, which also increases its tensile

capacity and leads to the creation of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC). FRC is described as

concrete formed using hydraulic cement and fine and coarse aggregates with addition of

fibers to improve the materials’ properties.

One of the most promising fibers for concrete reinforcement is glass fiber. Known

for its minimal specific weight, low water absorption, high elastic modulus, and tensile

strength, glass fiber is a valuable addition to concrete. The use of fibers in concrete can

reduce overall construction costs by substituting conventional and energy-intensive

techniques such as wiring mesh and steel reinforcing bars. Additionally, since the volume

of fiber required is much less than that of traditional reinforcement materials, energy

consumption is also reduced.

Table 1. Physical Properties of Glass Fibers

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Despite their advantages, glass fibers have their drawbacks. They are highly

sensitive to water and have low resistance to alkali conditions. This sensitivity results

from the washing away of alkali metal ions from their exterior surfaces, causing cracks.

To mitigate these issues, glass fibers undergo a silane preparation process, which shields

them from the detrimental effects of moisture in the atmosphere.

This study primarily addresses the need to enhance the mechanical and durability

properties of conventional concrete that significantly limits its functionality. It also seeks

to address detailed review and analysis of glass fiber-reinforced concrete and aims to

consolidate existing research findings, evaluate the improvements with inclusion of glass

fiber, and to identify the optimal conditions and practices that maximize the benefits of

Glass Fibers Reinforced Concrete GFRC.

This study significantly attributes on enhancing the mechanical properties such as

compressive, tensile and flexural strength. The durability which is demonstrated as it

provides better resistance to penetration and acid attacks. It also promotes the lower

construction cost by reducing the need for reinforcement using steel bars as well as the

sustainability upon using the industrial byproducts.

The purpose of the study is to gather and analyze research findings on glass fiber

reinforced concrete (GFRC) by reviewing the body of existing literature. This involves

considering the benefits and downsides of adding glass fibers to concrete. It aims to

identify following:

1. Critical Review and Analysis of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)

● Conduct a thorough literature review to compile and summarize prior research

findings on GFRC.

● Evaluate prior study data to determine the advantages and disadvantages of

adding glass fiber to concrete.

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2. Evaluation of Mechanical and Durability Improvements:

● Examine how glass fibers affect the mechanical qualities of concrete, such as

compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength.

● Examine how glass fibers affect concrete durability parameters such as crack

resistance, water permeability, and chemical assault.

3. Identifying the Optimal Conditions and Practices:

● Determine the best glass fiber content, type, and distribution in GFRC to provide

maximum mechanical and durability effects.

● Determine the optimal procedures for mixing, curing, and application to achieve

considerably higher results.

● Determine and recommend the most effective strategies to introduce glass fibers

into concrete mixtures, taking into account fiber length, aspect ratio, and

dispersion techniques.

4. Developing Practical Guidelines:

● Create practical guidelines and suggestions for the use of GFRC in the

construction sector, ensuring satisfactory performance in a wide range of

applications.

● Provide insights into GFRC's long-term performance and sustainability, taking

into account its environmental impact and cost consequences.

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METHODOLOGY

Under this section, the important properties of concrete such as the mechanical properties

and the durability aspects were defined. The bond strength of the glass fiber were and

cement paste were inspected via scanning electron microscopy. The examination detailed

an in-depth analysis of the said properties.

A. Fresh and Mechanical Properties

1. Slump Flow. The flowability of the concrete mix with fiber was tested by

checking the slump values.

2. Compressive Strength (CPM), Flexural Strength (FLS), and Tensile

Strength (TS). The concrete mixes with the inclusion of glass fibers were

put through various testing processes to determine the optimal amount of

glass fibers needed in a mix.

3. Elastic Modulus. This was tested by adjusting the volume percentage of

glass fibers in self-compacting concrete.

B. Durability

1. Chloride Penetration. This was tested by seeing the chloride-ion

penetrations in the 28 and 90-day aging period of the concrete.

2. Water Absorption. This determined how quickly the interior and the

exterior surfaces of the concrete absorb water by determining the rise in

density after being subjected to water.

3. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity and Rebound Hammer Test. UPV validates the

integrity and quality of mechanical strength of concrete by measuring the

velocity and attenuation of an ultrasonic wave traveling through concrete

at a depth of approximately 6 feet. The Rebound hammer test is a

non-damaging concrete assessment procedure that evaluates the concrete’s

mechanical capacity rapidly and simply.

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4. Shrinkage. Concrete shrinkage and volume reduction were tested by

removing moisture from the sample.

5. Acid resistance. The performance of glass under a NaCl solution was

examined by testing the compressive capacity of glass fiber concrete after

60 and 90 days of salt solution exposure at various pH values.

C. Scanning Electron Microscopy

1. The effect of glass fiber content on the glass fiber concrete. The scanning

electron microscopy was used to examine the fiber-matrix interface.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A. Mechanical Properties

1. Compressive Strength (CPM)

Figure 1. Compressive strength

Figure 1 demonstrates the compressive strength (CPM) of concrete with the

inclusion of glass fibers. The CPM of concrete improved to a certain extent with the

incorporation of glass fibers.

The study found that the age of the concrete does not affect the compressive

strength (CPM) of glass fiber-reinforced concrete. Glass fibers (GF) did not improve the

CPM compared to the control samples likely due to inconsistent distribution of concrete

ingredients, which aligns with the findings of Fenu et al.

In self-compacting concrete, the addition of 0.25%, 0.75%, and 1.25% GF

increased CPM by 25.52%, 39.57%, and 47.92%, respectively. This improvement is

likely because glass fibers help prevent fractures, enhancing resistance under

compression. Moreover, the presence of nylon and glass fibers also reduced expansion,

improving CPM by enhancing the fiber-cement paste interface.

The study discovered that Increasing GF from 1.5% to 2.5% did not significantly

improve CPM except in mixes with pozzolanic materials. Initially, pozzolanic admixtures

reduced CPM, especially with nano silica due to reduced workability. However, over

time, pozzolanic materials increased CPM by forming calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H)

gel during hydration.

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The mix with 15% metakaolin showed the highest CPM improvement, indicating

the importance of pozzolanic reactions for long-term strength. Glass fibers at 0.5%

slightly improved CPM, while higher concentrations (1.0% and 1.5%) had similar CPM

to control concrete, showing that GF has a minimal impact on CPM.

2. Flexural Strength (FLS)

Figure 2. Flexural strength

Figure 2 shows that adding glass fibers improves the flexural strength (FLS) of

concrete, similar to compressive strength (CPM). Both basalt and glass fibers increase

FLS, with basalt showing a steady rise with higher doses. However, beyond a 0.50% dose

of glass fiber, FLS improvements are minimal.

Recycled glass fibers improve FLS distribution, achieving a maximum coefficient

of variance (COV) of 9.61% at 1.25% fiber content. This is due to the bridging effect of

GF fibers helps transmit stress across cracks, enhancing flexural performance. Adding

0.1% glass fibers to concrete increases FLS by 19.31% after 28 days. Reinforcements like

carbon-fiber grid and steel-strand grid further increase FLS by 47.7% and 13.3%,

respectively, compared to normal specimens.

Research shows glass fibers significantly enhance FLS, but they cause brittle

failure, unlike nylon fibers, which improve FLS by up to 13% and prevent complete

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separation of shattered specimens. Increasing GF volume percentage raises FLS as fibers

resist load until the matrix-fiber bond breaks down.

Figure 3. Failure of GF-reinforced beam: Permission of use from Elsevier

However, point accumulation of glass fibers and inadequate mortar cover can

cause cracks and concrete rupture shown in Figure 3. Supplementary cementitious

materials are recommended to improve GF-reinforced concrete's flexural capacity.

Figure 4. Linear Regression between Compressive and Flexural Strength

This illustrates a significant relationship between CPM and FLS (R-square of

0.75), indicating that FLS can be estimated from CPM using the equation in Figure 4.

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3. Split Tensile Strength

Figure 5. Tensile strength

Figure 5 shows that adding glass fibers (GF) improves the tensile strength (TS) of

concrete. GF increases splitting tensile strength by up to 12.5% in concrete and 17% in

mortar by limiting microcrack growth and transmitting stress to bridging fibers. Beyond a

0.50% dose, no significant strength improvement is seen.

The optimal GF level is 1.5%, boosting compressive, flexural, and split tensile

strengths by 14.29%, 8.12%, and 10.03%, respectively. Synthetic polypropylene fibers

reduce drying shrinkage by 40% and enhance residual tensile strength and ductility.

Microfibers prevent microcracks, increasing tensile strength and preventing macrocracks,

thus improving ductility [68]. Polypropylene microfibers at 1.5% improve tensile strength

by 21.4%.

Adding 0.1% GF to concrete increases tensile strength by 42.23% after 28 days.

Nylon fibers also boost tensile strength by up to 21%. Composites with 20% sisal fiber

and 80% GF perform best in tensile loading, while pure GF concrete excels in flexural

loading with maximum tensile strength of 181.84 MPa and flexural capacity of 288.80

MPa. Increasing GF content enhances tensile and flexural capacity due to the bridging

effect, despite no significant impact on compressive strength.

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4. Elastic Modulus

Figure 6. Elastic Modulus

Figure 6 shows the modulus of elasticity in glass fiber-reinforced concrete at

various fiber volumes. Generally, increasing the fiber dose slightly decreases the modulus

of elasticity compared to ordinary concrete

One study found that increasing GF volume in self-compacting concrete (SCC)

from 0 to 1.5% enhanced the modulus of elasticity. Another study reported a 7% decrease

in modulus of elasticity with 0.25% GF compared to control concrete. Glass fibers have a

lower modulus of elasticity than banana fibers, resulting in slightly lower values for

GF-reinforced concrete. However, SCC with fibers showed a 10% higher modulus of

elasticity than plain SCC.

Laboratory tests indicate that fiber inclusion has no significant impact on

concrete’s modulus of elasticity. At low GF concentrations, there is a small decrease in

the modulus. GF inclusion results in minor improvements in elastic modulus (0.5–5%),

with minimal difference between plain concrete and 1% GF concrete. More research is

needed on the elastic modulus of fiber-reinforced concrete.

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B. Durability

1. Chloride Penetration

Figure 7. Chloride-Ion Penetration

The chloride-ion permeabilities of the SCC composites are shown in Figure 7.

With increasing GF volumetric percentages and NS content, there was a gradual

reduction in chloride-ion penetrations. Chloride-ion penetrations decreased between 3068

and 3004 C, and between 2678 and 2578 C, corresponding to the 28- and 90-day age

periods, in mixes without NS, with GF volumetric fractions rising from 0 percent to 1.5

percent.

The interaction of glass fibers with concrete increases the pore and internal

structure of concrete compatibility by preventing cracks, thus increasing its density. The

water and chloride penetration into the concrete is reduced due to the concrete’s more

compact structure. Because glass fibers bridge across fractures and form interconnected

voids, glass fiber-reinforced SCC samples have somewhat higher chloride penetrability

than the reference mix sample. This was in agreement with the findings of other studies.

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2. Water Absorption

The impact of GF on water absorption was much better than that of PPF. When

the water/binder ratio was 0.30, adding 1.35 percent GF reduced the specimen’s water

absorption from 3.49 percent to 1.99 percent, with a maximum reduction of 43.0 percent.

Meanwhile, adding 0.45 percent PPF reduced water absorption from 3.49 percent to 3.12

percent, with a maximum reduction of 10.6 percent.

When steel fibers were introduced at a rate of 2.0 percent, the lowest quantity of

water absorption was observed. Because the elastic modulus of traditional concrete is less

than that of fiber-reinforced concrete, the addition of fibers to concrete would boost the

tensile strain characteristics, limiting the growth and expansion of early fissures. To

reiterate, increasing the density of concrete lowers water absorption. Greater doses (over

2.0 percent) resulted in the least compact concrete due to a lack of flowability.

3. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity and Rebound Hammer Test

The homogeneity of plain concrete may be reduced by adding fibers. Concrete is

graded according to the UPV values and rebound numbers specified in the appropriate

standard codes. The steel fiber-reinforced concrete surface hardness was found as a hard

layer. The surface hardness of the GF-reinforced concrete matrix was lower than that of

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RCC, and it was evaluated as a good layer. In comparison to ordinary concrete,

reinforced concrete has poor homogeneity.

The reinforced concrete containing a large fiber volume improved the

homogeneity in this study. As the amount of fibers rose, the pulse velocity dropped.

Concrete with steel fibers has a lower pulse velocity than concrete with glass fibers.

When compared to reinforced vibrated concrete, reinforced SCC exhibited higher

uniformity.

4. Creep

Over a period of 50 years, a study on the creep behavior of pultruded GFRP

revealed a typical reduction in instantaneous longitudinal; flexural stiffness of pultruded

profile of around 50%, and it was predicted that for a period of one year, the flexural

stiffness will be in the range of 75–80% of elastic. It is also expected that after one year

of loading, creep deflection would grow by up to 35 percent, and after 50 years, increase

by up to 100 percent.

To analyze the creep behavior of a pultruded GFRP structure, it was held under

load for more than two years. Due to the directional arrangement of fibers, the result

showed that rheological properties of pultruded composites connected with shear

loadings were independent, as shear creep was found to be larger than creep under

traction, and the creep deflection was predicted to be 24.4 percent after 50 years.

The creep behavior of GFRP was tested, and after 6 and 14 months, Young’s

modulus composites were lowered by 20%. Meanwhile, creep behavior of GFRP

pultruded flexural member revealed shear stiffness after 50 years with average decrease

of effective instantaneous flexural and larger due to shear deformation rather than

bending counterpart. Finally, after five months, a creep analysis on GFRP girders

revealed an increase in instantaneous deflection of up to 40%, proving the potential of

GFRP in structural industries.

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5. Shrinkage

Figure 12. Shrinkage Crack Width (a) Without Fibers and (b) With Fibers.

Early-stage shrinkage in new concrete is caused by a moisture exchange from the

surface to the environment (by evaporation) and a mass exchange via the concrete to the

surface. Humidity exchange happens because of variations in relative humidity between

the environment and the concrete during drying. The bulk of volume changes due to

shrinkage in high- and middle-strength concrete fit into this category. As a result, this

form of shrinkage is explored in depth in this study.

Researchers discovered a considerable decrease in free early age shrinkage, which

they attributed to strong GF-cementitious matrix bonding. Furthermore, the GFRC

shrinkage was more homogeneous than that of mortar without fibers. Finally, the

favorable impact of GF in restraining cracks and reducing the probability of their

formation was established.

6. Performance of Glass Fiber under NaCl Solution

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Figure 13. Compressive Strength Under NaCl Solution With Different PH Value

Figure 13 depicts the compressive capacity of glass fiber concrete after 60 and 90

days of salt solution exposure at various PH values. Specimens with a 1 percent fiber

dose produced the highest strengths for the respective PH levels and exposure times,

followed by specimens with a 0.5 percent fiber dosage. The compressive strength of each

dose of concrete specimen decreased as the PH of the salt solution decreased from PH 13

to PH 1. This owes to the corrosive effects of a high acid concentration in a low PH

environment. The degradation of concrete was significantly more severe owing to the

entrance of Cl and H+ ions into the concrete when the aggressive character of the salt

solution was enhanced by decreasing the PH from 4 to 1.

Because of its alkalinity, salt solutions with PH 10 and 13 had little effect, and

concrete degradation was extremely minor, resulting in greater compressive capacity

retention values. The preservation of compressive capacity decreases as the

aggressiveness of the exposure rises, which may be linked to the severe degradation of

concrete composites. The 1.0 percent glass fiber dose was proved to retain compressive

strength better than the 0.5 and 1.5 percent fiber dosages.

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C. Microstructure

1. Scanning Electron Microscopy

Figure 11. SEM Results of GF at Water to Binder Ratio 0.30: Used with the

Permission of Elsevier

When the water-to-binder (w/b) ratio is 0.30, SEM images in Figure 11 show

GFRC specimens with closely linked GF and cement matrix due to GF's hydrophilicity.

The GF fills pores and decreases porosity, enhancing strength and reducing water

absorption. GF creates a dense, three-dimensional support network in the matrix,

preventing crack propagation and improving compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths.

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Figure 12. SEM Results of GF at Water to Binder Ratio 0.35: Used with the

Permission of Elsevier

For a w/b ratio of 0.35, SEM images in Figure 12 show good binding between

GF and the cement paste, even at 1.35% GF content. However, increasing GF doses

result in more and larger voids, leading to decreased strength and increased water

absorption. The optimal GF content for compressive and flexural strength drops to 0.90%

when the w/b ratio is 0.35.

Proper packing and GF inclusion reduce shrinkage cracks and concrete permeability. A

combination of GF and PPF provides the best void size reduction, with PPF linking

smaller voids and GF linking larger ones. This results in a denser, more impermeable

material, aligning with findings by Chen et al. Additionally, silica fume (SF) protects GF

from alkali degradation by forming a barrier on the fiber surface.

SEM studies also reveal that GF can form bundles and flocculate, leading to nonuniform

distribution and reduced bonding strength. Thus, careful mixing and fiber dosage

selection are essential.

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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The study focused on composites made of glass fibers. The key qualities of concrete,

such as mechanical durability and microstructure, were considered. Following are the

conclusions reached after a thorough examination and discussion of the findings.

● Glass fibers have a negative impact on concrete flowability due to their higher

surface area, which increases resistance to flow.

● Glass fibers did not show significant improvement in compressive strength.

Tensile and flexural capacity, on the other hand, were significantly enhanced. This

is a result of the glass fibers’ ability to resist cracking.

● The surface hardness of glass fiber-reinforced concrete is lower than that of steel

fiber-reinforced concrete, which is rated as a good layer.

● Glass fibers reduce the permeability of concrete to chloride-ions due to crack

prevention.

● Glass fibers increase the performance of concrete in a maritime environment.

● The optimal dosage of fibers is affected by the water to binder ratio, according to

preliminary study of SEM observation. The major causes for this are the dramatic

increases in pore size and quantity caused by the coupling effect of increased

water/binder ratio and fiber content. The impact of the water/binder ratio should

be addressed when considering the effect of fibers on the mechanical or

microstructural qualities of concrete.

The researchers of the study also indicated these following recommendations that can be

done in order to further provide various study, report and expand the knowledge in the

topic.

● The evaluation of concrete performance in extreme environments is crucial for

ensuring its durability and reliability.

● Further information on the creep and dry shrinkage properties of glass

fiber-reinforced concrete is imperative for comprehensive understanding.

● Exploring the thermal characteristics of glass-based composites is crucial for

understanding their properties.

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● The available research indicates that incorporating glass fibers may not markedly

improve the compressive strength of concrete. Consequently, further exploration

using alternative pozzolanic materials is essential to elevate the compressive

strength of glass fiber-reinforced concrete.

REFERENCES:

Ahmad, J., González-Lezcano, R. A., Majdi, A., Ben Kahla, N., Deifalla, A. F., & El-Shorbagy, M. A.
(2022). Glass fibers reinforced concrete: Overview on mechanical, durability and microstructure analysis.
Materials, 15(15), 5111. [Link]

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