This study explores a layered approach to fibre reinforcement for enhancing the flexural behaviour of self-compacting concrete beams. Polypropylene fibres were placed in tension zones of the cross-section to improve efficiency and utilization. The optimal mix with 0.075% fibre achieved 13.88% higher compressive strength and 15.47% higher tensile strength than the control concrete mix. Durability also improved, with water absorption reduced by 37.03% and chloride ion penetration reduced by 25.64%. Flexural testing was carried out on five beam configurations with fibres at full depth, bottom half, and one-third depth above and below the reinforcement. Half-layered beams with fibres above the tensile reinforcement reached an ultimate load of 149.20 kN and a ductility index of 6.68. They nearly matched fully reinforced beams while using only half the fibre content, offering structural and economic benefits, fibre placement below the reinforcement gives negligible gains. The findings confirm that targeted fibre placement enhances crack resistance, ductility, and energy absorption while reducing fibre use.
Borra et al. (2026) studied this question.