Experimental evaluation of mechanical properties and durability of lightweight concrete containing bentonite and fibers for use in irrigation canal walls

Given the growing demand for lightweight concrete research to obtain optimal results from lightweight concrete is inevitable. In this study, the influence of steel fibers, polypropylene and glass on the tensile strength, compressive strength and water absorption (durability) of lightweight concrete is investigated. For this purpose, initially 10 basic mixing schemes in which all the properties of the fixed materials and only the percentage of fibers were changed, and one design as the reference mixing scheme (concrete without fibers) were developed. After selecting the control design, the tests of compressive strength, tensile strength, percentage Water absorption (durability) was performed on the samples at 7 days and 28 days. According to the results, it can be concluded that steel fibers are very useful in increasing the compressive and tensile strength of lightweight plastic containing fiber, which in some stages of testing increases the compressive and tensile strength of concrete by more than 40% but poly fibers Propylene and glass, due to their physical and physical properties, are most effective in reducing the percentage of water absorption or increasing the durability of concrete in corrosive environments, although they have a slight effect on the compressive and tensile strength of concrete.