Title: Effect of waste PET fibre on rheological and mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete

Authors: Shireen T. Saadullah; James H. Haido; Yaman S.S. Al-Kamaki

Addresses: Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Duhok (UoD), Zakho Street 38, 1006 AJ, Duhok 42001, Kurdistan Region, Iraq ' Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Duhok (UoD), Zakho Street 38, 1006 AJ, Duhok 42001, Kurdistan Region, Iraq ' Highways and Bridges Engineering Department, Technical College of Engineering, Duhok Polytechnic University (DPU), Zakho Road 61, 1006 Mazi Qr, Duhok 42001, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract: One of the prevalent environmental issues is the disposal of solid waste, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which primarily originates from plastic drinking bottles. The objective of this study is to observe the impact of incorporating PET waste fibres (PETWF) on the rheological and mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC). Different volumetric ratios of waste PET bres (0%, 0.25%, and 0.5%) with fibre lengths of 2 cm and 4 cm were used. Fresh concrete tests showed that mixes with PETWF having a length of 2 cm meet the criteria of self-compactability of concrete, irrespective of the fibres content. The hardened concrete tests showed a slight enhancement in compressive and tensile strength of mixtures that incorporate 0.25%PET fibre (2 cm), and also showed that the plastic fibres have a significant impact on enhancement the flexural strength of mixtures containing (0.5%PET) fibres (4 cm). The achieved results are very interesting and suggest the potential use of PETWF in structural components of SCC, as the inclusion of these fibres in concrete retards the formation of micro-cracks.

Keywords: self-compacting concrete; SCC; waste PET fibre; rheological properties; mechanical properties.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2026.150367

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2026 Vol.11 No.1, pp.65 - 84

Received: 01 Sep 2023
Accepted: 11 Dec 2023
Published online: 12 Dec 2025 *

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