Flexural Strength of Hybrid Steel-Coir Rope Fiber Reinforced Concrete

This research investigates the performance of hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete incorporating hooked-end steel fibers and coconut rope (coir fibers). The inclusion of steel fibers enhances the energy-absorbing capacity, while coir fibers contribute to delaying micro-crack formation. The study evaluates key properties such as flexural strength, residual flexural tensile strength, flexural toughness, and fiber distribution in hybrid steel-coir rope fiber-reinforced concrete. Three-point bending tests were conducted on notched beam specimens (100 × 100 × 500 mm) with a total fiber volume fraction of 2%. Various mix proportions, namely 2%-0%, 1%-1%, 0.4%-1.6%, and 0%- 2%, were used, incorporating hooked-end steel fiber and coconut rope at the specified volume ratios. The research compares the performance of steel-coir hybrid fiber concretes with those reinforced with hooked-end steel fibers and coir ropes. The findings highlight that the optimal combination for flexural strength lies in 1% steel fibers and 1% coconut rope (coir fibers) in hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete.