Human Hair as Fiber Reinforced Concrete for Enhancement of Tensile Strength of Concrete

Abstract

FRC (Fibre Reinforced Concrete) is fibrous material which increases its structural integrity, resists to explosive spalling in case of environmental affects, improves mix cohesion, improves ductility, reduces of steel reinforcement requirements and reduces the voids due to good stiffness. It contains short discrete fibres that are uniformly distributed. Mostly, natural fibers are the waste material which may have negative impact on environment. Synthetic fibres include steel fibres and glass fibres but natural fibres are coconut fibres and human hair fibres which tends to vary the properties to concrete. In addition, the character of FRC changes with varying concrete, fibre material, geometries, distribution, orientation and densities. Hair fibre concrete gives a practical, cost-effective and convenient method to avoid cracks and deficiencies regarding strength and proper mixing ratio which occurs at a longer period. Fibres have been used to reduce plastic shrinkage and drying shrinkage in concrete. In some structural elements, fibrous concrete can be used to reduce the cost of structure. Different fibres are used to improve the tensile strength of concrete. Human hair are strong in tension. Hair fibres can be utilized as a strengthening material. Hair fibre is a non-decay able matter and available at a cheap rate. Experiments have been performed on fibrous concrete cylinders containing various percentages of human hair which is 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% by the weight of cement. A total of seventy-two cylinders have been prepared with FRC having different %ages of hair content. Workability, compressive strength and split tensile strength have been checked at three curing ages i.e. 7, 14 and 28 days. This research will open a new wicket in the horizon of reuse of waste material efficiently in construction industry. This innovation in construction industry will save our natural resources and use fibre in productive and an effective approach.