Potential of Biomass Frond Fiber on Mechanical Properties of Green Foamed Concrete

Md Azree Othuman Mydin, Mohd Nasrun Mohd Nawi, Ruba A. Odeh and Anas A. Salameh
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Md Azree Othuman Mydin: Building Surveying Department, School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
Mohd Nasrun Mohd Nawi: Disaster Management Institute (DMI), School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok 06010, Malaysia
Ruba A. Odeh: Department of Allied Engineering Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
Anas A. Salameh: Department of Management Information Systems, College of Business Administration, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: Currently, the cost of construction rises along with the ongoing impact on the environment, and it has led the researchers to the acceptance of biomass natural fibers, such as biomass frond fiber (BFF), for the improvement of the mechanical properties of cement-based materials. BFF is abundantly accessible, making it relatively pertinent as a reinforcing material in foamed concrete (FC). In addition, natural fiber-reinforced concrete has been progressively employed in construction for several decades to reduce the crack growth under the static load. This paper intends to experimentally investigate the effectiveness of the addition of BFF to FC to improve its mechanical properties. The FC samples were strengthened with BFF at the weight fractions of 0.12%, 0.24%, 0.36%, 0.48%, and 0.60%. This study used three FC densities: 600 kg/m 3 , 800 kg/m 3 , and 1000 kg/m 3 , with fixed constitutions with 0.45 and 1:1.5 cement-to-water and cement-to-sand ratios, respectively. The evaluated strength characteristics included bending, splitting tensile, and compressive strengths. The experimental outcomes indicated that adding 0.36% BFF to FC facilitates optimal splitting tensile, compressive, and bending strength results. BFF enhances material strength by filling the spaces, microcracks, and gaps inside the FC structure. The BFF helped to reduce crack spreading when the plastic state of the FC cementitious matrix was loaded. Furthermore, the optimum level of BFF inclusion and the accumulation and the non-uniform distribution of BFF were detected, which caused the lowering of the strengths of the FC significantly. Beyond the optimum level of BFF, the agglomeration and the non-uniform dispersion of the BFF were seen, which resulted in a drop in mechanical properties. The output from this research will give a better insight into the potential utilization of plant fiber in FC. It is of profound significance to guide the sustainable development and application of FC material and infrastructures.

Keywords: foamed concrete; mechanical properties; compressive strength; flexural; tensile; frond fiber; biomass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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