Flexural Response of Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites

In fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC), fibers can be effective in arresting cracks at both macro and micro levels. Most of the FRC used today involves the use of a single fiber type, which implies that any fiber can provide reinforcement only at one level and within a limited range of strain or crack opening. For an optimal response, various types of fibers may be combined to produce hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HyFRC). The influence was quantified of various hybrid fiber combinations on fresh properties of concrete (that is, workability) and on hardened properties such as compressive strength. The objectives of the present study, however, were to investigate the flexural toughness properties of hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete and to identify synergistic effects between fibers, if present. The study found that some hybrid composites demonstrated some synergy between fibers.