KOTUN MUSTAPHA OLANREWAJU

BEHAVIOUR OF OIL PALM BROOM FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE

Introduction

Behaviour of oil palm broom fibre reinforced concrete. Explore the use of alkali-treated oil palm broom fibers (OPBF) to enhance the mechanical properties and flexural strength of concrete for durable, low-cost construction.

Abstract

Fiber reinforced concrete was developed by incorporating discrete fibers into the concrete mass to combat the brittle reaction of concrete. The durability of natural fibers such as oil palm broom was established through an experimental investigation in which the fiber was treated to an alkalization-related treatment procedure. The research is based on the investigation of the use of Oil Palm Broom Fibres (OPBF) in structural concrete to enhance the mechanical characteristics of concrete. The OPBF were subjected to an alkali treatment with the use of sodium hydroxide of 4 %, 6 %, 8 % and 10% with removal times of 1 hr, 2 hrs, 8 hrs and 24 hrs respectively. The flexural strength of OPBF concrete was determined after 28 days where the treated fibres were included in fresh concrete mix. The discrete OPBF of 75 mm length were washed and dried in open air and randomly included in the concrete at 0.3 % of the volume of the beam size 100 x 100 x 600 mm with mix ratio of 1:2:4 and water-cement ratio of 0.55 to assess the suitability and durability of the fibre in concrete. It was observed that the rate of water absorption of the treated fibres increase compared to untreated fibres and the treated OPBF with lkalization improves the flexural strength of concrete beam at a concentration of 6 % NaOH for a duration of 1hr and the SEM images of OPBF cross section shows dispersed cavities. The OPBF is appropriate for use in concrete as a brief discrete fibre reinforcement for low cost construction.

Review

This study presents a timely investigation into the potential of Oil Palm Broom Fibres (OPBF) as a natural reinforcement for concrete, aiming to mitigate its inherent brittleness and enhance mechanical characteristics. The authors establish a clear objective to assess the suitability and durability of OPBF in structural concrete through an experimental program, specifically focusing on flexural strength improvement via alkali treatment. This research aligns well with the growing interest in sustainable and low-cost construction materials, proposing a viable application for an agricultural waste product. The methodology employed involves treating OPBF with varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide (4% to 10%) and exposure durations (1 to 24 hours), followed by their incorporation at 0.3% volume into a standard concrete mix (1:2:4, w/c 0.55). Key experimental parameters, such as fiber length (75mm) and beam dimensions (100x100x600mm), are clearly stated. The study primarily evaluated 28-day flexural strength, complemented by observations on water absorption rate and SEM imaging of fiber cross-sections. A notable finding is that an optimal alkali treatment of 6% NaOH for 1 hour significantly improved the flexural strength of the concrete beams, although the magnitude of this improvement relative to untreated or control concrete is not explicitly stated in the abstract. Interestingly, the treated fibres showed an increased rate of water absorption, and SEM images revealed dispersed cavities, suggesting potential alterations in the fiber's microstructure. Overall, the paper makes a valuable contribution by demonstrating the efficacy of alkali-treated OPBF in enhancing concrete's flexural properties, thus confirming its appropriateness as a brief discrete fibre reinforcement for low-cost construction. While the abstract highlights the improvement in flexural strength and identifies an optimal treatment, a more quantitative comparison to conventional concrete or other fiber types would further strengthen the claims. The observation of increased water absorption in treated fibers, while noted, warrants further discussion regarding its long-term implications for concrete durability, especially if "durability" was a primary objective. Future work could delve deeper into the correlation between the observed dispersed cavities from SEM and the overall mechanical and long-term performance characteristics, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the treated OPBF's behavior in concrete.

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