Experimental Investigation on Use of Optical Fibers inManufacturing of Light Transmitting Concrete

Volume 6 Issue 3 September - November 2017

Research Paper

Experimental Investigation on Use of Optical Fibers inManufacturing of Light Transmitting Concrete

B. Yamini Nirmal*, K. Nehemiya**

* P.G. Scholar, DMS SVH College of Engineering, Andra Pradesh, India.

** Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, DMS SVH College of Engineering, Andra Pradesh, India.

Nirmal, B.Y., and Nehemiya, K. (2017). Experimental Investigation on Use of Optical Fibers in Manufacturing of Light Transmitting Concrete. i-manager’s Journal on Structural Engineering, 6(3), 19-25. https://doi.org/10.26634/jste.6.3.13726

Abstract

Light transmitting concrete is one of the fiber reinforced concretes, which is used for aesthetic application by incorporating the optical fibers in concrete. Optical fibers are one which helps for transmission of light through fibers. In this paper, the work is divided into two phases. In first phase, study of compressive strength and later in second phase study on flexural behaviour were carried out. Light transmitting masonry blocks were prepared of size 200 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm, and plastic optical fibers of diameter 0.38 mm were used. Fibers are inserted into the mortar bricks in order to investigate the amount of light transmitting potential and also to determine the strength parameter, i.e., compressive strength. Different percentages of fibers, such as 2% and 4% with different configurations were prepared. From this, the optimum fiber percentage and optimum fiber number along with location is determined and it can be used to observe the flexural behaviour in Prisms of standard size 50 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm and later beams were casted of size 130 cm x 18 cm x 20 cm with mesh, fiber alone, and a combination of both mesh and fiber, and the test results, i.e., Load vs. deflection (Load carrying capacity) were compared with that of regular or conventional concrete beams.