Assessment of the Behaviour and Performance of Napier Grass Fibers in a Natural Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

The prevalent issue with agricultural waste has led researchers worldwide to create new materials that will enhance the environmental quality of products. Utilizing composites shaped from raw and renewable natural fibers has become more common as the demand for new eco-friendly materials arises due to their low cost, superior mechanical qualities, and low energy consumption in their production. Napier grass fibers, as a sample of cellulosic fibers, had proven their performance compared to synthetic fibers. This paper aims to examine the results of mechanical properties such as compressive strength and flexural strength to determine the optimum fiber concentration and fiber length in Napier fiber-reinforced concrete (NFRC). Treatment of fibers is crucial because it increases the interfacial adhesion that strengthens the matrix's bonding. This study showed that adding Napier grass fibers enhanced the mechanical properties of concrete. However, a more significant aspect ratio may harm the NFRC's compressive and flexural strength.