Citation :

Gagandeep Singh Gill, Chetan Roy Gupta, Shilpa Singla, "Impact Resistance Analysis of Fibre Reinforced Concrete for Application in Dynamically Loaded Spillways and Other Hydraulic Structures," International Journal of Geo-informatics and Geological Science, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 10-16, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939206/IJGGS-V13I1P102

Abstract

Spillway and regulating structures of large dams are increasingly subjected to severe impact loading due to extreme hydrological events such as cloudbursts, sudden reservoir releases, and high-velocity flows. These conditions cause progressive surface deterioration, cracking, and loss of serviceability of conventional concrete. Traditional concretes with their intrinsic compressive strength and limited tensile strength have been used for the construction of these hydraulic structures, with limited resistance to impact/dynamic loading. In this study, the effectiveness of Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC) in enhancing the impact resistance of spillway-grade concrete is experimentally investigated for adoption under these dynamic load conditions. Adoption of FRC will help in reducing the recurring repair costs on account of damage to hydraulic structures under dynamic impact loading conditions. Concrete mixes of grades M20, M25, and M30, commonly used in hydraulic structures, were prepared with three different types of fibres, namely Plain Steel Fibres, Hooked-End Steel Fibres, and Polypropylene Fibres, at varying dosage levels. Impact resistance was evaluated using the ACI Committee 544 drop-weight impact test, in which a 44.48 N hammer was repeatedly dropped from a height of 457 mm onto disc-shaped concrete specimens until cracking and ultimate failure occurred. The impact energy was calculated from the number of blows required to initiate cracking and to reach final failure. The test results show that fibre inclusion significantly improves both the crack resistance and the ultimate impact energy absorption of concrete. Among the fibres studied, hooked-end steel fibres exhibited the greatest improvement, owing to their superior mechanical anchorage and bond with the cement matrix. Higher-strength concrete (M30) demonstrated greater impact resistance, indicating that improved matrix strength enhances fibre effectiveness. Polypropylene fibres, despite their low density and small dosage by weight, produced substantial improvement in impact resistance due to their high fibre count and crack-bridging ability. However, for all fibre types, the rate of increase in impact resistance reduced beyond optimum fibre content. The study confirms that fibre reinforced concrete, particularly with hooked-end steel fibres and optimized polypropylene fibre content, provides a robust and economical solution for improving the durability and impact resistance of spillways and regulating structures exposed to severe hydraulic loading.

Keywords

Dynamic Impact Loading, Impact Energy, Fibre Reinforced Concrete, Fiber Volume, Grade of Concrete, Drop Hammer Test.

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