FLEXURAL BEHAVIOUR OF HEMP FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS

ABSTRACT In this research work, an attempt was made to obtain low cost building materials using natural fibres. Fibers are usually used in concrete to control cracking due to both plastic shrinkage and drying shrinkage and bridge across the cracks that develop in concrete. Hemp fibres were used in this work to exploit the enormous potentials of renewable resources in the non-food areas of natural fibers. The fibres in volumetric ratios of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% fibers were used. It was attempted to determine the optimum percentage of Hemp fiber in concrete that is found to bring about an appreciable increase in the mechanical properties of concrete. Reinforced concrete beams of grade M25 were cast and tested under two-point loading. The test results were found to be appreciable for RC beams with hemp fibres