The demand for applying sustainability in the construction industry increases the necessity of using natural materials in concrete production. Plant-based natural fibers are cost effective renewable materials which considered a potential way to support sustainable development in both urban and rural regions. This paper investigates the potential of using sugarcane bagasse, palm trunk and banana fibers as concrete reinforcement by determining the effect of different volume percentages of these fiber on the mechanical properties of concrete. The percentage of fiber used was 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% for sugarcane, 1%, 2%, and 3% for Palm Trunk, and 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7%, and 1% for banana. Results showed that the optimum value of sugarcane, and banana is 0.5%, 4% respectively. In addition, the addition of 1%, 2%, and 3% of palm trunk fiber improved the mechanical properties of concrete.

Plastic wastes (PW) create chronic environmental problems mainly because it is not biodegradable. The utilization of PW as a fractional substitution of fine aggregate in concrete production is a sustainable application. However, the smooth surface of plastic weakens the cement-plastic bond and consequently lessens the mechanical properties of concrete. This research improves the cement-plastic bond by increasing the hydrophilicity and coarseness of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through chemical treatment with 5wt% polystyrene (P.S.) and 5wt% PKHH-phenoxy resin. Twenty eight mixtures with different w/c ratio; 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, and 0.6 and different percentage of sand substitution; 5%, 20%, and 50% are cast. Tests are conducted to determine the behavior of fresh and hardened concrete in terms of workability, water absorption, density, compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, and durability. Results show that the proposed chemical treatment rises the cement-plastic bond. The compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength were improved by 45%, 35%, and 6% respectively compared to corresponding untreated plastic recycled concrete. The highest mechanical properties are achieved for mixes with 5% plastic. Nevertheless, a 20% replacement of sand with treated plastic can be used effectively to produce structural concrete.

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The current challenge facing the construction industry is to produce sustainable concrete at the lowest feasible cost. One obstacle to that is the demand for an excessive amount of cement. The reduction of cement content can be achieved by its partial replacement with by-product materials that attain an appropriate pozzolanic index. Two by-products namely; Ceramic waste powder (CWP) and rice husk ash (RHA) are remarkably formed throughout tiles and rice production. Using these by-products as a partial substitution for cement reduces landfills, the cost of concrete, and climate change due to cement production. This paper investigates the effect of replacing 5%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% of cement with CWP. Varied proportions of RHA; 5%, 10%, 15%, and 25% were added to the mix with the optimum CWP. The concrete mixture was proportioned to produce M35-grade concrete. Properties of concrete were assessed concerning workability, compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength. The results are compared to conventional concrete with 0% replacement. Results identified that 20% substitution of cement by CWP is the optimum percentage. It increases the compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength by 11%, 20%, and 12.5% respectively. Increasing the percentage up to 30% has minor effect on tensile and flexural strength but has destructive effect on compressive strength. Blending cement with CWP and RHA additionally improves the mechanical properties. The combination of 20% CWP/10% RHA propose superior strength, it increases the compressive, tensile, and flexural strength by 14%, 28%, and 19% compared to the control concrete.