An Experimental and Characteristic Study of Abaca Fiber Concrete

Abstract

Abstract The natural fibers can be an effective material to reinforce in concrete to improvedurability and strength, more compared to effect of synthetic materials on concrete. This study states about the effect of concrete with abaca fiber. The specimens of concrete were cast with the addition of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of abaca fiber and the respective tests were carried out on 7, 14 and 28 days of healing to assess compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength. The addition of super plasticizer along with the fiber helped in reducing the water content to match the highwater absorption capability of the fiber in the concrete. Among the above mentioned fiber percentage added to the concrete, it was observed that 0.5% gives the maximum compressive strength, which concludes to be the optimum percentage of abaca fiber addition. Optimum percent of abaca fiber was achieved with the split tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength. Scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis was conducted on reinforced concrete with 0.5 percent abaca fiber to test the picture structure and elementary concrete composition.