Effect of the height of reinforced concrete layer on the mechanical properties of functionally graded concrete incorporating fly ash and polypropylene fiber

The present research aims to investigate the influence of the ratio of reinforced concrete layer height to total height (h/H) on the mechanical properties of functionally graded concrete (FGC) containing fly ash (Fa) and polypropylene (PP) fiber. All FGC samples were prepared with a constant water-to-cementitious materials ratio of 0.36 and ordinary Portland cement was replaced with Fa at 20% by mass. The reinforcement layer of FGC was enhanced with PP fiber inclusion (0.3% by volume of concrete). The effect of various h/H ratios of 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 on the mechanical properties of the FGC samples was evaluated. The results show that flexural strength, flexural toughness, and compressive strength values of the FGC with PP fiber were higher than those of FGC without PP fiber at the age of 28 days regardless of Fa replacement. The experimental results also pointed out that the FGC samples prepared using an h/H ratio of 0.50 were beneficial in terms of mechanical properties.