Examining Mechanical Property Differences in Concrete with Natural and Synthetic Fiber Additives

Author(s)/Creator(s)

Walid Fouad Edris
Sammy Elbialy
Ayman El-Zohairy
Ashraf Mohamed Soliman

Publication Title

Journal of Composites Science

Document Type

Article

Abstract/Description

The rapid growth of Natural Fiber Laminate (NFL) innovation is a direct response to environmental challenges, positioning these materials as superior alternatives to synthetic fiber composites. This paper delved into the outcomes of an extensive experimental study investigating the influence of sisal fiber (SLF), banana fiber (BF), and glass fiber (GF) on the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of concrete. The water absorption curves were established for sisal fiber concrete (SLFC), banana fiber concrete (BFC), and glass fiber concrete (GFC). Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations were conducted to perform microanalysis and failure analysis of the tested specimens. The results revealed significant improvements in the concrete containing fibers compared to its counterpart in fiber-free concrete. For mixtures with a water-to-binder (W/B) ratio of 0.3, the most optimal mix (GF-30-135) showed improvements in compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strengths by 4.13%, 8.93%, and 10.10%, respectively. On the other hand, for W/Bof0.4, mix GF-30-135 showed improvements of 5.05%, 8.55%, and 11.60%, respectively. Furthermore, as the fiber content increased, microscopic analyses revealed a weakening of the bond between the fibers and the rest of the matrix, contributing to the deterioration of the mechanical properties.

Department

Engineering and Technology

First Page

167

Last Page

185

DOI

10.3390/jcs8050167

Volume

8

ISSN

2504-477X

Date

4-30-2024

Citation Information

Edris, Walid Fouad; Elbialy, Sammy; El-Zohairy, Ayman; and Soliman, Ashraf Mohamed, "Examining Mechanical Property Differences in Concrete with Natural and Synthetic Fiber Additives" (2024). Faculty Publications. 203.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/cose-faculty-publications/203