Review Paper on strength properties of concrete with partial replacement of cement by GGBS and polypropylene fibers

Abstract

The increasing demand for concrete in infrastructure development has resulted in significant consumption of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), whose production is associated with high energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), an industrial by-product of the iron and steel industry, has emerged as an effective supplementary cementitious material for partially replacing cement in concrete. At the same time, polypropylene (PP) fibers are increasingly used to improve crack resistance, tensile behavior, toughness, and post-cracking performance. This review paper examines the combined influence of GGBS and polypropylene fibers on the strength properties of concrete. The review focuses on compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, workability, durability, and microstructural behavior. Previous research indicates that moderate GGBS replacement can improve later-age strength and durability because of its latent hydraulic and pozzolanic reactions, although high replacement levels may reduce early-age strength. Polypropylene fibers generally have limited influence on compressive strength but can significantly improve tensile, flexural, toughness, crack-control, and impact performance when an appropriate dosage is selected. The combined use of GGBS and PP fibers therefore provides an opportunity to develop more sustainable and crack-resistant concrete. However, the optimum combination depends on GGBS characteristics, fiber dosage, aspect ratio, curing conditions, water-to-binder ratio, and mix proportions. Further research is required to establish optimized GGBS–PP fiber combinations for structural and durable concrete applications.