Impact of Fibers on the Mechanical and Environmental Properties of High-Performance Concrete Incorporating Zeolite

This study investigates, for the first time, the effects of polypropylene, steel, glass, and synthetic fibers on the mechanical and environmental properties of high-performance concrete (HPC) incorporating zeolite as a substitute for aggregates and cement. A series of tests, including compressive strength (load-displacement), slump, specific gravity, and water absorption percentage, were conducted to evaluate the performance of the composite materials. Additionally, the IMPACT2002+ method was employed to assess the environmental impacts of the different fiber types. Furthermore, a life cycle costing (LCC) analysis was performed to evaluate the economic feasibility of using these fibers in sustainable HPC applications. The findings reveal that the incorporation of steel fibers results in a notable improvement in compressive strength, achieving 92 MPa compared to 85 MPa for fiber-free samples. Additionally, modified synthetic macro fibers exhibited the second-highest compressive strength, at 83 MPa, while also demonstrating the lowest environmental impact among the tested fibers, characterized by the lowest cost index and minimal carbon dioxide emissions.