STUDY ON MECHANICAL AND DURABILITY PERFORMANCE OF HYBRID FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE COMPARED TO PLAIN RCC

Concrete, while the most widely used construction material, suffers from inherent brittleness and low tensile strength. Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) has been introduced to overcome these drawbacks. However, single-fiber systems improve only selective properties. Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Concrete (HFRC), which combines fibers of varying characteristics, offers improved crack resistance, ductility, and durability. This paper reviews major literature on HFRC and presents comparative insights against conventional Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC). Experimental results on M25 grade concrete mixes using steel, glass, and polypropylene fibers are summarized. Key findings reveal significant improvements in compressive, tensile, flexural, bond, and impact strengths, along with enhanced durability against acid, sulphate, and marine environments. The study demonstrates that hybridization of fibers yields synergistic effects, positioning HFRC as a promising material for aggressive environments and critical infrastructure.