Experimental Investigation of Steel Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete (SFRGC) Beams under Flexural Loading for Sustainable Structural Applications

Author

Ram Gopal, Mr. Sachin Sharma

Abstract

 Steel Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete (SFRGC) has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional reinforced concrete due to its reduced carbon footprint and enhanced mechanical performance. This study experimentally investigates the flexural behavior of SFRGC beams to evaluate their suitability for sustainable structural applications. Geopolymer concrete was produced using industrial by-products as binder materials and reinforced with steel fibers to improve tensile strength, crack resistance, and ductility. Beam specimens were cast, cured under controlled conditions, and tested under four-point bending until failure. Key performance parameters, including first crack load, ultimate load, load–deflection response, flexural strength, ductility, and failure patterns, were recorded and analyzed. The experimental results indicated that the inclusion of steel fibers significantly enhanced the flexural performance of geopolymer concrete beams by increasing load-carrying capacity and delaying crack propagation. Fiber reinforcement also improved post-cracking behavior, energy absorption, and structural ductility, resulting in a more gradual and controlled failure mechanism compared with conventional geopolymer concrete beams. The findings demonstrate that SFRGC beams possess superior structural performance while contributing to environmental sustainability through the utilization of industrial waste materials and reduced cement consumption. The study highlights the potential of SFRGC as an efficient and eco-friendly construction material for modern infrastructure. These experimental findings provide valuable insights for the design and application of sustainable concrete structures and establish a foundation for future numerical modeling and large-scale structural implementation.

Keywords

Steel Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete (SFRGC), Geopolymer Concrete, Flexural Behavior, Sustainable Construction, Structural Performance, Crack Resistance, Ductility, Load–Deflection Response

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