The impact resistance of Fiber-Reinforced concrete with polypropylene fibers and GFRP wrapping

Abstract

Developments in polymer technology have introduced new choices such as using fibers and fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) to improve the impact behavior of concrete structures. In this research, 52 concrete samples (half of which wrapped with glass fiber-reinforced polymers-GFRP) with different compressive strengths (20, 30, and 40 MPa) and polypropylene fibers were constructed. These samples were subjected to weight dropping (46.7 kg and 66.8 kg). The number of weight droppings related to 30% weight loss was recorded. Results indicated that the impact resistance of the concrete samples, corresponding to the number of weight droppings, increased using higher-strength concrete, higher polypropylene ratios, or GFRP wrapping, separately and in application with each other. However, the effects of GFRP wrapping on the improvement of the impact resistance much higher than those of the polypropylene fibers or concrete strength.