Optimisation of Mechanical Characteristics of Alkali-Resistant Glass Fibre Concrete towards Sustainable Construction

Abstract

Concrete is a worldwide construction material, but it has inherent faults, such as a low tensile strength, when not reinforced with steel or other forms of reinforcement. Various innovative materials are being incorporated into concrete to minimise its drawbacks while concurrently improving its dependability and sustainability. This study addresses the research gap by exploring and enhancing the utilisation of glass fibre (GF) concerning its mechanical properties and reduction of embodied carbon. The most significant advantage of incorporating GF into concrete is its capacity to reduce the obstruction ratio, forming clusters, and subsequent material solidification. The study involved experiments wherein GF was incorporated into concrete in varying proportions of 0%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, 1.50%, 1.75%, and 2% by weight. Mechanical tests and tests for durability were conducted, and Embodied carbon (EC) with eco-strength efficiency was also evaluated to assess the material’s sustainability. The investigation found that the optimal percentage of GF to be used in concrete is 1.25% by weight, which gives the optimum results for concrete’s mechanical strength and UPV. Adding 1.25% GF to the material results in increases of 11.76%, 17.63%, 17.73%, 5.72%, and 62.5% in C.S, STS, F.S, MoE, and impact energy, respectively. Concrete blended with 1.25% of GF has the optimum value of UPV. The carbon footprint associated with concrete positively correlates with the proportion of GF in its composition. The optimisation of GF in concrete is carried out by utilising the response surface methodology (RSM); equations generated through RSM enable the computation of the effects of incorporating GF in concrete.