EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF ADDING FAN PALM FIBERS ON CONCRETE DURABILITY EXPOSED TO SEVERE ENVIRONMENTS

Author(s): M. Machaka, A. ElKordi
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference
on Bio-Based Building Materials
Editor(s): Sofiane AMZIANE, Mohammed SONEBI and Karine CHARLET
ISBN:
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-192-6
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2017
Pages: 479-484
Total Pages: 6
Language : English

Abstract: Adding Fiber to Concrete became a common practice to improve its durability, but for
environmental purposes, it is preferable to use natural fibers instead of synthetic ones. In
addition, using fibers prepared from tree waste that improves many concrete physical and
mechanical properties is environmentally effective and costly preferable. Natural fibers extracted
from Fan Palm trees that were cured chemically when used in concrete lead to improvements in
concrete physical and mechanical properties. On the other hand, one of the major challenges
that faces the commercial use of natural fibers in concrete is its durability. For that reason, an
experimental program was conducted to study the durability of natural fibers by measuring the
volume stability of the concrete when exposed to different severe environment conditions. The
investigation recorded the length change of concrete bars with 1% fiber volume fraction and
without fibers when exposed to sea water, solution with 2% MgSO4, 2% Na2SO4, and NaOH for
a period of 150 days. The study was performed on three grades of concrete 30MPa ,40MPa, and
60MPa to monitor the effect of different concrete grades on the results. From the results, it can
be concluded that adding Fan Palm fibers to concrete significantly improves its resistance when
exposed to sea water, MgSO4, Na2SO4, and NaOH solutions. After 150 days of exposure to
harsh environment, the expansion of concrete bars for length change measurements was
recorded for the concrete with fibers and compared to that of control mixture (without fibers). The
reduction was between 20% and 40% for different Concrete grades and solutions. In Summary,
Fan Palm Fibers maintain their durability in concrete when exposed to severe chemical
exposures. In addition, adding natural fibers to concrete decreases concrete bar Expansion thus
improves its durability.

Online publication :2017
Publication type :full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00