Optimising Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Lightweight Foamed Concrete Through Hybrid Fibre Reinforcement

This paper aims to enhance the adaptability of Lightweight Foamed Concrete (LFC) for semi-structural applications in response to the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly construction materials. The study examines the improvement of mechanical, durability, and microscopic characteristics by integrating polypropylene (PP) and nylon fibres under a sealed curing condition. A stringent experimental methodology contrasted with control mixtures (without fibres), single-fibre mixtures (0.4% PP), and hybrid-fibre mixtures (0.2% PP and 0.2% nylon) with a uniform 1:1 mixing ratio. The results indicated a significant initial enhancement in mechanical strength and durability, along with increased resistance to porosity and water absorption over time. Hybrid fibre-reinforced LFC mixtures with a fibre volume fraction of 0.2% demonstrated excellent performance, attaining enhanced mechanical and durability characteristics in comparison to single-fibre and control mixtures. Microstructural investigation demonstrated the synergistic reinforcement processes of hybrid fibres, enhancing structural integrity and long-term performance were investigated using Extreme High Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (XHR-FESEM) analysis.