Study of Use of Bitumen Fiber to Increase Flexural Strength of Concrete

Since the time of World War, I there was increase in demand of development of blast resistance structure. It is during World War II the defense organizations took keen interest and funded the researchers carried on RCC structures subjected to blast loading [1]. The application of blast loading on structures affects the walls, columns, beams and slabs by impact waves. Therefore, a structural designer must ensure the failure of structure in ductile manner. The building constructed in Oklahoma City using non ductile concrete design proved to be extremely dangerous [2]. In high rise buildings due to decrease in wavelength the impact loading the time period increases. So, to reduce the effect of blast loading the size of the beam column is increased. Another approach to tackle the blast load is to add shear wall and bracings but as result the cost of the construction increases. Another way to reduce the effect is to use columns at closer distance at or near the ground. The columns are also sometimes wrapped with carbon fiber reinforced sheets, but it then affects the economy of the construction. Many researchers have shown in their research that the cost of construction of blast resistance of new structures is far overpriced than the cost required for retrofitting of a present structure to same standards [1]. The main damage mechanics of an explosion is supersonic shock waves that transmit radially from the blast origin like a bubble. The blast which occur at or near the earth’s surface, ground waves also take place and are handled similar to seismic waves [1]. The use high performance concrete (above M60) has added advantages over conventional concrete due to high compressive strength, low porosity, improved microstructural homogeneity, high flexibility with addition of fibers [3]. The design of high-grade concrete was made achievable by reduction of micro-cracks in the hydrated cement paste and the transition zone which results in reduction of porosity and reducing in homogeneity in the normal concrete [3].

Rice husks are shells generating during the de-husking of paddy rice. A per recent data 1000kg of paddy rice produces about 200kg of husk, which on burning generate about 40kg of ash [4]. Both the crystalline and amorphous rice husk ash is used to manufacture a limerice husk ash mix and Portland rice husk ash cement. Replacement of OPC by rice husk ash significant improvement in flexural strength and compressive strength for M30 and M60 grade of concrete. Both concrete mixes at 10% replacement level of rice husk ash level showed 0.6 to 8% increase in flexural strength. There is decrease in split tensile strength in both grades of concrete mixes. It varies from 9.7% to 26.69% and 6.62 to 26.90% at 28days for the variation for rice husk content 5 to20% from M30and M60 grade of concrete [4]. The addition of rice husk ash increases compressive strength of concrete at 10% replacement of cement. Due to increase in demand of cement in the construction day by day, the scientist start to use the waste material in the construction purpose (such as- flash ash, rice husk ash, marble powder, polymers, waste plastics, E-waste, etc) to prevent from the overburden on nature resources.

The objective of this paper to increases the flexural strength of concrete and give low shrinkage, low permeability, and high compressive strength by the addition of bitumen fibers and rice husk ash in the high strength concrete (M60).

Figure 1:Bitumen fiber over the mixture.

In this experimental program the M60 design mix concrete was taken [5], the concrete is made with the water-cement ratio of 0.45. The cement is replaced with the VG-10 bitumen and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) in different proportions, and the bitumen is collected from the local Public Works Department of Bareilly, U.P. and the RHA is collected from the rice mill of a Bareilly. The Portland Pozzolana Cement of 43 grade is used, which is collected from the local distributer of Bareilly. The RHA is passed from the 45 micron sieve [5] and the threads of bitumen is made the help of metallic cone, the cone having hole of 1-2mm diameter; the molten bitumen is passed from the cone and it is separated over the mixture (coarse aggregate , fine aggregate ,cement and RHA) of minerals and allow to cool down for some time. After cooling of bitumen threats, water is added to prepare the concrete (Figure 1). Long threads are automatically broken into small fibers and a uniform mixture is prepared [6-8].

By using these materials, the concrete cube (150*150*150mm) and beam mould (100*100*500mm) is casted and tested after 28days in the compression testing machine and flexibility testing machine. The Table 1 shows the initial tests made on bitumen to find the flash point, fire point, penetration and ductility so that when used in high temperature areas, it gives the desired results. The tests showed that that bitumen can withstand the high environmental temperature [9-11].

Table 1:Physical properties of bitumen.

The design mix shown in Table 2 has given satisfactory results. The tests were performed in control condition wherein cement is replaced by bitumen and rice husk ash in stated ratio and the flexural strength of concrete increased by 1.28MPa. The design mix shown in Table 3 has given satisfactory results. The tests were performed in control condition wherein cement is replaced by bitumen and rice husk ash in stated ratio and the flexural strength of concrete increased by 4.88MPa [12-15]. The design mix shown in Table 4 has given satisfactory results. The tests were performed in control condition wherein cement is replaced by bitumen and rice husk ash in stated ratio and the flexural strength of concrete increased by 16.68MPa.

Table 2:Mix proportion of materials

Table 3:Mix Proportion of Materials.

Table 4:Mix proportions of materials.

A. It is concluded that on the addition of bitumen fiber and the rice husk ash in replacement of cement the properties of the M60 grade concrete is enhanced.

B. On replacing the 100gm of cement by 60gm of bitumen fiber and 40gm of RHA, the concrete gave the best result.

C. The flexural strength of concrete is increased by 16.68N/ mm2 with respect to natural flexible strength of concrete and the compression strength is maintained by the bitumen.

D. By using the specified amount of RHA we can decrease the cost of structure.

E. By using these types of mixture, the standoff distance should be decreased, because this M60 concrete have high flexibility.

F. It should be possible to decrease the voids in the concrete; the particle size of RHA (45micron) is less than cement.

G. By using RHA and bitumen it should be possible to make the HPC at low cost.

H. By using this type of concrete the chances of collapse of structure during the blast should be reduced due to impact waves of blast.

The study was made by taking a pre-defined concrete mix of M60.The same can be performed for low grade of concrete. Such concrete can also be utilized in building construction.

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