Investigation on the effect of silane treatment over glass fibers in high strength concrete
摘要
This research study offers a comprehensive analysis over the effects of Silane surface treatment of glass fibers on the mechanical characteristics, ductility factor and impact resistance of High-Strength Concrete (HSC). By comparing the effectiveness of treated and untreated glass fibers in HSC, the research highlights improvements in mechanical properties, impact strength, ductility & toughness. Surface treatment of glass fibers is conducted in a sequential process, beginning with the alkali wash of fibers, soaking of fibers in the mixture of KH-550 hydrolysate, anhydrous ethanol and deionized water, followed by drying of fibers. HSC made in this study is composed of cement, Fly Ash (FA) and Silica Fume (SF) as the cementitious materials. The fibers were incorporated in varying percentages of cement weight, including 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%. Key mechanical properties, including compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength, ductility factor & impact strength were also evaluated to assess the holistic effects of Silane treatment of glass fibers over concrete behavior. Microstructural investigation through SEM analysis is conducted on the fibers and the matrix to investigate the morphology of the matrix of the optimum specimen. The incorporation of glass fibers was found to enhance all the mechanical properties. However, the improvement was significant when the fibers are silane treated. The study concludes that the inclusion of glass fibers notably enhances the impact resistance of concrete, increasing it by approximately 10 times, while ductility rises by about 12.4%. The addition of treated glass fibers to concrete mixes presents a promising approach to enhancing the material’s durability and performance, particularly in applications subject to impact forces, such as pavements, industrial floors, and structural components exposed to seismic or dynamic loads.