Effect of aluminum oxide and titanium oxide nanoparticles on the mechanical behavior of fresh and hardened concrete containing polypropylene fibers and microsilica
摘要
This study examines the combined effects of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, polypropylene fibers, and microsilica on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete. Concrete mixtures were designed with nanoparticle contents varying from 0% to 2% and fiber contents from 0% to 1.4% by weight of cement. Tests were conducted on both fresh and hardened concrete to evaluate workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and water absorption. The results indicate that the optimal mixture—containing 1% nanoparticles, 0.8% polypropylene fibers, and 4% microsilica—achieved the highest mechanical strength while substantially reducing water absorption. The incorporation of nano-Al2O3 and nano-TiO2 enhanced matrix densification and improved the interfacial bond between the cement paste and aggregates, thereby confirming their effectiveness in improving both the mechanical performance and long-term durability of fiber-reinforced concrete. For 28-day concrete specimens without fibers and nanoparticles, the water absorption was approximately 4.2%. However, when the content of titanium and aluminum oxide nanoparticles was increased to 2% of the cement weight, the absorption decreased to 2.4% and 2.3%, respectively.