Mechanical Performance of Date-Palm-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Containing Silica Fume

Abstract

The use of date palm fiber (DPF) as natural fiber in concrete and mortar continues to gain acceptability due to its low-cost and availability. However, the main disadvantage of DPF in cement-based composites is that it reduces compressive strength and increases the porosity of the composite. Hence, for DPF to be efficiently used in concrete, its negative effects must be counteracted. Therefore, in this study, silica fume was employed as supplementary cementitious material to alleviate the negative effects of DPF on the strength and porosity of concrete. The DPF was added in different dosages of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% by weight of binder materials. Silica fume was used as a cement replacement material at dosages of 0% to 15% (intervals of 5%) by volume of cement. The unit weights, mechanical strengths, water absorption, and microstructural morphology were all evaluated. The concrete’s fresh and hardened densities were reduced with the increment in DPF and silica fume. The compressive strength declined at all ages with the increment in DPF addition, while the flexural and splitting tensile strengths improved with addition of up to 2% DPF. Furthermore, the concrete’s water absorption escalated with an increase in DPF content. Silica fume significantly enhanced the mechanical strength of the concrete. The dissipation in compressive strength with the addition of up to 2% DPF was mitigated by replacing up to 10% cement with silica fume, where it densified the microstructure and refined the interfacial transition zone between the fibers and cement matrix, hence significantly decreasing the porosity and enhancing durability.

Microstructural Analysis of Thermally Treated Geopolymer Incorporated with Neodymium

“…The distribution of pore size is almost uniform. Compared to the work of Aref A. Abadella et al, a trend of increasing porosity with an increasing percentage of dehydrated cement powder is observed, while in this work, porosity increases with temperature changes [ 33 ]. The porosity of the material can also be increased by the addition of date palm fibers, as shown in the work of Yasser E. Ibrahim et al [ 34 ].…”

Modeling and Optimization of Date Palm Fiber Reinforced Concrete Modified with Powdered Activated Carbon under Elevated Temperature

“…However, they do not significantly improve the performance of cement composites. Synthetic fibers including steel fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, and asbestos are more expensive and mostly not eco-sustainable compared to natural fibers but significantly enhance the performance of composites [10]. Other new fibers have been developed from waste materials and have been found to improve the fracture toughness and tensile strength of concrete.…”

Investigation of Alkali-Activated Slag-Based Composite Incorporating Dehydrated Cement Powder and Red Mud

“…Portland cement is the most highly utilized construction material around the globe. The emission of CO 2 from the manufacturing of Portland cement is nearly 5 to 7% of the worldwide release of carbon dioxide [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ], which has detrimental impacts on the world’s response to environmental protection [ 5 ]. Hence, environmental activists and concerned officials in different nations have been inspiring the cement sector to decrease its release of carbon dioxide [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Hence, environmental activists and concerned officials in different nations have been inspiring the cement sector to decrease its release of carbon dioxide [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. There are two methods of reducing the utilization of cement, the 1st is the usage of blended cement, and the 2nd is the usage of alkali-activated granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) [ 9 ], rice husk ash (RHA) [ 10 ], fly ash (FA) [ 11 ], palm ash [ 4 , 12 , 13 ], or any other material with rich aluminosilicates [ 14 ]. Using alkali-activated materials [ 11 ] uses less energy and decreases carbon dioxide’s outflow.…”