COMPARATIVE EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON FOAM CONCRETE WITH POLYPROPYLENE FIBER AND CARBON FIBER

This paper demonstrates the comparative study of properties of foam concrete with polypropylene fiber and carbon fiber. The experimental investigations were done between foam concrete with 10% and 20% foam volume. As well as cuttle bone powder was partially replaced with cement as bio-filler in the aspect of cost cutting in foam concrete production and reducing environmental hazard. Both polypropylene and carbon fibers were added in the foam concrete in the percentage of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3% by mix volume fraction. The physical, mechanical, thermal and durability properties of foam concrete were investigated. The result showed inclusion of fibers in foam concrete increases the compressive strength with minimal reduction in densities. The hydrophobic properties of foam concrete were improved with polypropylene fiber addition, which decreases the adsorption and sorptivity characteristics. Irrespective of the type of fiber added the thermal conductivity of foam concrete also decreases when compared to conventional foam concrete. Polypropylene fiber in foam concrete showed the highest reduction in thermal conductivity. With the gainful impact saw on the density and strength performance and from the cost investigation, 2% Polypropylene fiber with 25% cuttlebone powder as cement replacement in foam concrete is recommended for the production of low cost and sustainable foamed concrete.