Effect of Bamboo Fibre Reinforced

Concrete in Improving Flexural

Behaviour and Capacity For Rigid
Pavements

By:
Hafiz Muhammad Awais
MCE181005
 Research Motivation
 To provide better infrastructure for road pavements
 To reduce detrimental effects on rigid pavements,
thus, overall maintenance cost will be reduced.
 To provide a smooth, comfortable and durable
surface for traffic to move.
 Literature Review
Aspect 1
• Crack formation in concrete pavements is mainly due to the
development of tensile stresses caused by temperature-
induced volumetric change. Jenq et al. (1994)
• Combining the tensile stresses with low fracture resistance
of concrete often result in cracking. William et al. (2002)

Aspect 2
Used basalt fibre reinforced concrete to enhance flexural
performance. Basalt fibres of 6mm, 12mm and 24mm in length
were added to the mixture, 2% by volume. It was concluded that
flexural strength increases for basalt fibre reinforced
concrete. Yildizel et al. (2014)

 BFRC = Bamboo fibers reinforced concrete & PC = Plain concrete

Aspect 3
The comparison is made between the PC & BFRC at 7 days, 14 days
and 28 days curing. Improved tensile strength (upto 37%) was
observed. Brindha et al. (2017)
Aspect 4
Reviewed the use of natural fibres, including bamboo fibre, as a
construction material. It was concluded that the use of natural fibres
as a reinforcement of concrete is economical to improve their
tensile strength. Ali (2012)

To the author’s best knowledge, the research conducted

bamboo fibre reinforced concrete (BFRC) is very limited for
improving flexural behaviour and capacity of pavements.
 Problem Statement
 These crack needs to be
controlled for long term
performance of rigid
pavements.
 To attain this objective, the
fibers can be utilized in
concrete to improve their
performance against these
types of cracks.
 The performance of other
fibers in rigid pavements for
Cracks in rigid pavements
this application still need to be
explored in detail.
Overall Aim:
The overall aim of this research program is to explore materials for
better performance of rigid pavements by using the concrete having
enhanced functionality and durability.

Specific Goal:
To improve flexural performance and capacity of rigid pavements by
inclusion of bamboo fibre as a dispersed reinforcement in reinforced
concrete.
Scope of Work:
Flexural load carrying capacity of prototype beamlets will be
determined experimentally in STM for PC and BFRC. In addition,
modulus of rupture of PC and BFRC will be determined by using
empirical equations.

Limitation:
• For determining material property only two specimens were casted
separately from RC and BFRC.
• This study is conducted by using only 5% of bamboo fibre by mass
of cement.
 Background
Specimens:
• PC C:S:A:W = 1:4:2:0.6
• BFRC C:S:A:W = 1:4:2:0.6 +
(5% fiber Content with 5cm cut length)
• Two beamlets (100 mm x 100 mm x 450 mm) were cast
each for PC and BFRC.
• The longitudinal and transverse reinforcement in PC and
BFRC beam-lets are Ø6 steel rebars of Grade-280.
Testing:

Slump Density MoR Initial Setup

 Design Equation
Flexural Capacity:
• MBFRC= Ts*(d – a/2) + TBFRC {(t - tf /2)- a/2} (for BFRC)
• MPC = Ts(d – a/2) (for PC)

Rigid Pavement Design Equation:

Empirical Design Equation (Code Recommended):
Modulus of Elasticity & Compressive
Strength
• The ACI Code (ACI-318) defines
the relationship between elastic
of modulus and cylindrical
compressive strength as
Ec = 4734√ fc′
Where;
– fc′ is 28 days cylindrical
compressive strength in MPa and
– Ec is modulus of Elasticity
Flexural Strength & Compressive
Strength
• The ACI Code (ACI-318) defines
the relationship between
flexural strength and cylindrical
Compressive strength as
fr = 0.62√fc′
Where;
– fc′ is 28 days cylindrical
compressive strength in MPa
– fr is flexural tensile or modulus of
rupture of concrete in Mpa
 Empirical Design Equation By Conducting Regression
Analysis OF Experimental Data:

Modulus of Elasticity & Flexural Strength & Compressive

Compressive Strength Strength

• For Cylindrical Compressive • For Cylindrical Compressive

strength: strength:
Ec = C1 √fc’ fr = C2 √fc’
Where; Where;

– C1 = 3881
– fc' is 28 days Cylindrical
Compressive Strength in MPa
– Ec is modulus of Elasticity
– C2 = 0.9
– fc' is 28 days Cylindrical
Compressive Strength in MPa
– fr is flexural tensile or modulus
of rupture of concrete in Mpa
 Results
Flexural Properties:
MoR (MPa) Energy (KJ)

4 PC

Flexure load (kN)

BFRC

Increased by 42%
Increased by 73%
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Deflection (mm)
T.I
Ductility (µ)
LOAD-DEFLECTION Curve

 E = Area under load-time curve

 T.I = total energy / pre-crack
energy absorbed
 µ = Ultimate deflection / max. load
deflection

Increased by 3 Times Increased by 4 Times

 Flexural Capacity:
Comparison for RC and BFRC

Moment Capacity
100 PC
BFRC

50

0
 Rigid Pavement Design:
Design Calculation
PC

Code recommended relationship BFRC

Decreased by 5%

100

50

Empirical relationship obtained by regression analysis

Decreased by 3%
100

50

0
 Discussion
 Cracks formation in rigid pavements were mainly
due to development of tensile stresses (Jenq et al.
1994).
 For the bamboo fibers, an increase in tensile
properties was found as compared to PC.
(Brindha et al. 2017).
 MoR for BFRC increases by 10% (current study).
 Moment capacity for BFRC increases by 5% (current
study).
 Conclusions
 MoR, E, TI , µ & moment capacity of BFRC were increased by
42%, 73%, 225% ,300% & 5% respectively as compared to
that of PC, ensuring its high performance.
 Thickness of rigid pavement for BFRC decreased by 3% as
compared to that of PC.
 Overall results are favouring its utility for use in rigid
pavements to improving flexural behaviour and capacity for
rigid pavements.
Recommendations
 To optimize BFRC with different mix design ratios (i.e. fibres
length, content mix design ratio, w/c ratio, etc.) for its
application in rigid pavement.
 To investigate the effectiveness of bamboo fibre in reducing
cost and improving performance.
Acknowledgement
 Engr Dr. Majid Ali for his motivation and step by step
guidance throughout this study.
Any Question ??
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Design parameters for 1998 AASHTO rigid pavement design model