EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF OIL-PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH (OPEFB) FIBRE ON STRENGTHS AND STRENGTH RELATIONS OF CONCRETE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/mjce.v38.25831Keywords:
Architecture, civil engineering, construction, education, structural materials, Compressive strength; Concrete; Modulus of rupture; Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber (OPEFBF) Splitting tensile strength; Modulus of RuptureAbstract
Though concrete remains the leading preferred construction material to date, its vulnerability to tensile forces, even when reinforcement is embedded, remains a credible concern. This is because of the tendency for the formation of tensile cracks, thereby weakening the overall structural response of concrete to external forces and thus undermining the achievement of UN-SDG 9-1 as it relates to the development of quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure in the long run. The effects of reinforcing concrete specimens with fiber derived from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFBF) were assessed in this study. The evaluation encompassed measurements of its properties, specifically compressive strength, modulus of rupture, and splitting tensile strength. For this research, concrete mixtures were formulated incorporating OPEFBF at varying percentages (0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1.0%, and 1.2%) relative to the weight of cement. From these mixes, a total complement of specimens was produced, including 105 cubes (150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm), 105 cylinders (150 mm x 300 mm), and 105 beams (100 mm x 100 mm x 500 mm) for compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and modulus of rupture tests, respectively. All specimens underwent curing periods of 7, 14, 21, 28, and 90 days. The investigations were governed by relevant standards. The findings demonstrated that (i) adding fiber up to 0.4% increased compressive strength (ii) up to 0.6% of fiber addition increased both the modulus of rupture and the splitting tensile strength when compared to the control mix, and (iii) the power equation perfectly represents how the tensile strength and compressive strength are related. For practical applications, a fiber content not greater than 0.4% is suggested to obtain an optimal balance between compressive and tensile strength.
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