Influence of Two Types of Plastic Fibers on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Concrete

Roña V.; Villegas L.; Marín N.; López A.; Benites J.; Chavez C.; Olaya W.; Alvarez L.; Villavicencio F.; Arriola G. · Civil Engineering and Architecture (2026) · DOI: 10.13189/cea.2026.141327

Resumen

Plastic fiber (PF) is a material utilized in the production of textiles, packaging, and other derivatives; however, its excessive use and the absence of an adequate recycling process have a detrimental impact on the environment. Consequently, there is a growing interest in exploring its potential applications in the manufacturing of concrete. The objective of the present investigation was to determine the influence of two types of PF on the physical and mechanical properties of concrete for three standard strengths: 17.17 MPa (R1), 20.60 MPa (R2), and 27.46 MPa (R3). The Type I fiber (PFTI) proportions were employed at 350 g/m³, 750 g/m³, 1150 g/m³, and 1550 g/m³, while the Type II fiber (PFTII) proportions were utilized at 500 g/m³, 1000 g/m³, 1500 g/m³, and 2000 g/m³. These proportions were in relation to the volume of each concrete mix, whose mechanical properties were evaluated at 28 days. The results showed that, in terms of physical properties, the slump and air content decrease slightly as the amount of fibers increases, while the unit weight increases. On the other hand, for the compressive strength of R1, a significant increase of 13.57% was obtained with 500 g/m3 of PFTII. For R2, the addition of 350 g/m3 of PFTI increased the compressive strength by up to 45.03%. For R3, by adding 1550 g/m3 of PFTI, an increase of 16.48% was achieved. In relation to the flexural strength of R1 and R2, the proportion of 1000 g/m³PFTII exhibited a notable increase of 52.25% and 37.53%, respectively. However, for R3, the maximum value was 1500 g/m³of PFTII, resulting in an increase of up to 36%. It can be concluded that the addition of PF has a positive influence on the different standard strengths, with PFTI being particularly effective for compressive strength and PFTII for flexural strength. This allows the production of environmentally friendly concrete, which is a crucial contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Trujillo; Universidad Nacional del Santa; Universidad César Vallejo