USE OF PALM FIBER AS A REINFORCED FIBRE FOR IMPROVING THE BENDING STRENGTH OF LIGHTWEIGHT FOAM CONCRETE

Abstract

Incorporation of natural fiber can give useful enhancements to the concrete mechanical properties. Compressive strength and flexural strength development of lightweight foam (LFC) concrete reinforced with palm fibre cured in water was investigated at different ages. LFC was maintained at a plastic density of 900, 1000 and 1100 kg/m3 with a variation of ±50 kg/m3, and a constant water–binder ratio of 0.5 was used for all mixes. Palm fiber was introduced into the LFC at 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% by weight of cement. Tests results showed that the use of the palm fiber increases the density of lightweight concrete, the compressive strength and flexural strength of LFC increased as a result of increasing the percentage at which palm fiber was used to addition to the mixes. The results indicated that the use of palm fiber with LFC enhances the compressive strength and flexural strength mechanical properties of the concrete and the optimization of the palm fiber additions is required to get the best performance.