Experimental and Comparative Study of Sisal and Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete

Natural fibres are most commonly and effectively used in concrete composites, due to their high specific strength, light weight and bio-degradability over synthetic fibres such as glass and carbon. In this study sisal fibres as natural fibres and glass fibres as synthetic fibre are used, and fibre reinforced composite system was developed. Chemical treatment (Alkali resistance treatment) was given to sisal fibre, to increase the interface adhesion between fibre and matrix and decrease in water absorption. Fibres were added to concrete in varying percentage of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% in two grades of concrete namely M20 and M30. Mechanical properties such as compressive, split tensile and flexural strength of these two systems were checked and compared. Test results indicate that addition of sisal fibre in concrete gives high tensile and flexural strength, hence sisal fibres can incorporated as an alternative to glass fibre.