The Effect of Adding <i>Phragmites australis</i> Fibers on the Properties of Concrete
Nowadays, the increasing demand for concrete is causing serious environmental impact including pollution and waste generation, rapid depletion of natural resources, and increased CO<sub>2</sub> emission. Incorporating natural fibers in concrete can contribute toward environmental sustain...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-03-01
|
| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/3/278 |
| _version_ | 1797447006870831104 |
|---|---|
| author | Meheddene Machaka Jamal Khatib Safaa Baydoun Adel Elkordi Joseph J. Assaad |
| author_facet | Meheddene Machaka Jamal Khatib Safaa Baydoun Adel Elkordi Joseph J. Assaad |
| author_sort | Meheddene Machaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nowadays, the increasing demand for concrete is causing serious environmental impact including pollution and waste generation, rapid depletion of natural resources, and increased CO<sub>2</sub> emission. Incorporating natural fibers in concrete can contribute toward environmental sustainability. This paper is concerned with the use of natural fibers obtained from the plant species <i>Phragmites australis</i> (PA). The plant is invasive, and rapidly grows abundantly along rivers and waterways, causing major ecological problems. This research is part of a wide range investigation on the use of natural fibers produced from the stem of PA plants in concrete. Using a machine, plant stems were crushed into fibers measuring 40 mm in length and 2 mm in width, and treated with 4% NaOH solution for 24 h. A total of four concrete mixes were prepared with varying additions of treated fibers, ranging from 0% to 1.5% (by volume) with water to cement ratio of 0.5% (by volume). Concrete specimens were tested at 3, 7, and 28 days. Testing included compressive strength, density, total water absorption, and capillary water absorption. The results show that incorporating PA natural fibers reduces the water absorption by total immersion and capillary action by up to 45%. Moreover, there is a negligible decrease in concrete density and strength when fibers were added. It is concluded that adding up to 1.5% natural PA fibers to concrete is a feasible strategy to produce an eco-friendly material which can be used in the production of sustainable building material with adequate mechanical and durability performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:48:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f15628d6e09f48768dd72f4a3aa4cfb3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:48:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-f15628d6e09f48768dd72f4a3aa4cfb32023-11-30T20:54:27ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092022-03-0112327810.3390/buildings12030278The Effect of Adding <i>Phragmites australis</i> Fibers on the Properties of ConcreteMeheddene Machaka0Jamal Khatib1Safaa Baydoun2Adel Elkordi3Joseph J. Assaad4Faculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University, Beirut P.O. Box 11-5020, LebanonFaculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University, Beirut P.O. Box 11-5020, LebanonFaculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University, Beirut P.O. Box 11-5020, LebanonFaculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University, Beirut P.O. Box 11-5020, LebanonFaculty of Engineering, University of Balamand, Al Kourah P.O. Box 100, LebanonNowadays, the increasing demand for concrete is causing serious environmental impact including pollution and waste generation, rapid depletion of natural resources, and increased CO<sub>2</sub> emission. Incorporating natural fibers in concrete can contribute toward environmental sustainability. This paper is concerned with the use of natural fibers obtained from the plant species <i>Phragmites australis</i> (PA). The plant is invasive, and rapidly grows abundantly along rivers and waterways, causing major ecological problems. This research is part of a wide range investigation on the use of natural fibers produced from the stem of PA plants in concrete. Using a machine, plant stems were crushed into fibers measuring 40 mm in length and 2 mm in width, and treated with 4% NaOH solution for 24 h. A total of four concrete mixes were prepared with varying additions of treated fibers, ranging from 0% to 1.5% (by volume) with water to cement ratio of 0.5% (by volume). Concrete specimens were tested at 3, 7, and 28 days. Testing included compressive strength, density, total water absorption, and capillary water absorption. The results show that incorporating PA natural fibers reduces the water absorption by total immersion and capillary action by up to 45%. Moreover, there is a negligible decrease in concrete density and strength when fibers were added. It is concluded that adding up to 1.5% natural PA fibers to concrete is a feasible strategy to produce an eco-friendly material which can be used in the production of sustainable building material with adequate mechanical and durability performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/3/278natural fibersconcrete<i>Phragmites australis</i>capillary water absorptionsustainability |
| spellingShingle | Meheddene Machaka Jamal Khatib Safaa Baydoun Adel Elkordi Joseph J. Assaad The Effect of Adding <i>Phragmites australis</i> Fibers on the Properties of Concrete Buildings natural fibers concrete <i>Phragmites australis</i> capillary water absorption sustainability |
| title | The Effect of Adding <i>Phragmites australis</i> Fibers on the Properties of Concrete |
| title_full | The Effect of Adding <i>Phragmites australis</i> Fibers on the Properties of Concrete |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Adding <i>Phragmites australis</i> Fibers on the Properties of Concrete |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Adding <i>Phragmites australis</i> Fibers on the Properties of Concrete |
| title_short | The Effect of Adding <i>Phragmites australis</i> Fibers on the Properties of Concrete |
| title_sort | effect of adding i phragmites australis i fibers on the properties of concrete |
| topic | natural fibers concrete <i>Phragmites australis</i> capillary water absorption sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/3/278 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT meheddenemachaka theeffectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT jamalkhatib theeffectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT safaabaydoun theeffectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT adelelkordi theeffectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT josephjassaad theeffectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT meheddenemachaka effectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT jamalkhatib effectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT safaabaydoun effectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT adelelkordi effectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete AT josephjassaad effectofaddingiphragmitesaustralisifibersonthepropertiesofconcrete |