Experimental study of kenaf bio fibrous concrete composites

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of treated Kenaf fibre as reinforcement in concrete composite production for high performance structures. A comparison of both Plain concrete (PC) and Kenaf bio fibrous concrete composite (KBFCC) was made. The bio fibrous concrete mix was made of three different fibre contents (0.5%, 0.75% and 1%) and corresponding two different fibre lengths of 25 mm and 50 mm. A high workability and rheology mix proportion of grade 30 N/mm2 at 28 days was prepared. A test on workability of the fresh mix, compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, and shrinkage on the hardened concrete was done and the results were recorded at curing age of 7 and 28 days. The study showed that the workability and density of the concrete is reduced due to the inclusion of Kenaf fibre. A lower compressive strength and elastic modulus was exhibited by KBFCC as compared to PC. Splitting tensile and flexural strengths of KBFCC were however improved. The obtained result on shrinkage revealed that the drying shrinkage strain of KBFCC was lower than that of PC. The optimum fibre length and fibre volume fraction was established as 50 mm and 0.5%, respectively. The results obtained in this study indicated that Kenaf fibre can suitably be used as fibre reinforcement in concrete with satisfactory performance.