Fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) has gained tremendous attention in many disciplines due to its high initial strength, favorable mechanical properties, structural lightness, and energy-absorbing properties. In this research, Barchip fibres, Forta, and Basalt are utilized to reinforce concrete under penetration effect loading to examine the energy absorption and impact strength characteristics. To determine the parameters of the percentage of fibres on the impact resistance properties, the Box–Behnken method as a subset of the response surface method (RSM) was used. A diagram of RSM is adopted to determine the optimal percentage of fibres for higher initial strength and energy absorption. Results obtained using Design-Expert software revealed an initial strength of 886.127 N and an optimal energy absorption of 4.9865 J. In addition, the calculated R2 values and normal probability graphs showed a fairy accurate correlation between the results of the experimental and mathematical approaches. Finally, this study evaluated the fracture surface, adhesion of the fibres to the concrete, and degradation modes of the fibres to pave the way for optimal utilization of these hybrid FRCs.

Shear failure is an unfavorable phenomenon as it is a brittle type of failure; however, adding rebars and fibers to a concrete beam can minimize its detrimental effects. The objective of this study was to experimentally investigate the shear behavior of high-strength concrete (HC) beams reinforced with hooked-end (H) steel fibers and high-strength steel (HS) rebars under three-point bending tests. For this purpose, nine HC beams (300 × 250 × 1150 mm in dimension) were cast with 0%, 1%, and 2% H fibers by volume in three longitudinal rebar ratios (i.e., 1.5%, 2.0%, and 3.1%) and compared with beams without fibers. Furthermore, numerical analyses were performed to validate the experimental results and compare them with design codes. The results showed that, irrespective of the fiber content or longitudinal rebar ratio, the beams failed in shear. Increasing the rebar ratio and fiber content increased the shear capacity to as high as 100% (for the specimen with 3% rebar and 2% fiber compared to its counterpart with 1% rebar and 2% fiber). In addition, the research-based equations proposed in the literature either overestimated or underestimated the shear capacity of fibrous HC beams significantly. The level of overestimation or underestimation was closely related to the sensitivity of the proposed model to the shear span ratio and the fiber content. Rebars proved to be more beneficial in contributing to the shear capacity, but the rate of this positive contribution decreased as the fiber ratio increased. Finally, the inverse analysis approach adopted herein proved to be an efficient tool in estimating the shear response of fiber-reinforced beams failing in shear (margin of error: less than 10%).

This study investigates the influence of LDHs (Layered Double Hydroxides) microparticles and steel fibers on the mechanical properties of lightweight concrete. Through a combination of experimental analysis and finite element modeling, the effects of LDHs and steel fibers on flexural strength and crack resistance were evaluated. The experimental results demonstrate a significant increase in flexural strength and toughness with the incorporation of LDHs microparticles and steel fibers. The finite element model corroborates these findings, highlighting the synergistic enhancement of mechanical properties due to LDHs and steel fibers. Additionally, the study discusses the frontier applications of LDHs in improving fracture characteristics and highlights the potential of hybrid reinforcement strategies in lightweight concrete. The findings reveal that both the quantity of microparticles and steel fibers significantly impact the concrete's residual strength. In scenarios without steel fibers, an optimal weight fraction of approximately 1 wt.% LDHs demonstrate a 39% increase in bearing capacity. Notably, under comparable conditions, the influence of LDHs microparticles on enhancing concrete mechanical characteristics appears to surpass the effects induced by steel fibers. However, at 2 wt.% LDHs usage, a decrease in load capacity by 3.3% is observed compared to the 1 wt.% LDHs configuration. This research provides valuable insights into optimizing concrete properties through novel material combinations and paves the way for future advancements in structural engineering.