Experimental and modelling study of mixture design optimisation of glass fibre-reinforced concrete with combined utilisation of Taguchi and Extreme Vertices Design Techniques

Micro and short fibre inclusions to concrete mixtures increase their precrack resistance, and random distribution of fibres improve the properties of concrete in all directions. In this study, general design optimisation of glass fibre (GF)-reinforced concrete (GRC) was conducted to help professionals in producing industrial concrete facades and walls. The effects of ingredients, including paste and silica sand used as aggregate metakaolin (MK) and GF contents, were examined in terms of their compressive and flexural strengths. Fresh concrete properties, such as workability, were investigated through fibre content tests. Concrete specimens containing various GF% and MK amounts (0%, 5%, 10% and 15% by weight of cement) were evaluated during the experiments. Test results were analysed and used in the optimisation phase of the study. The optimum ingredient contents and their relations with concrete performance were determined through combined utilisation of Taguchi, ANOVA and extreme vertices design methods. Results obtained from these optimisation methods were applied to the specimens. The proposed design and optimisation method is effective in optimising the mechanical properties of GRC mixtures. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.