Innovative Eco-Friendly Concrete Utilizing Coconut Shell Fibers and Coir Pith Ash for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Concrete is the most commonly used and essential material in the construction industry, and it is also the most widely utilized product globally. The construction industry is a rapidly expanding industry. To improve the efficiency and strength properties of concrete, researchers from all over the world continue to search for supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and industrial by-products that can be incorporated as alternative materials. The current study aimed to determine the effects of partially substituting coir pith ash (CPA) for cement in coconut shell concrete, in addition to utilizing steel and coconut fibers. Various percentages of CPA were used to replace cement in the concrete mixes, ranging from 5% to 20% by cement weight. Steel fibers were utilized in this study at volume ratios of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0%, and coconut fibers were utilized at volume ratios of 0.1% to 0.5% with an increment of 0.1% in the concrete to achieve the desired results. Various properties have been examined, such as workability, mechanical, durability, and morphological tests. The addition of coir pith ash to concrete increased its compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths by 10.36%, 8.75%, and 7.7% at 28 days compared to control concrete. The incorporation of coconut fiber and coconut shell in concrete production improves its performance and strength while also preserving natural resources and offering a solution to the problem of disposing of solid waste.