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Strength, Water Porosity and Sulfuric Acid Performance of Coconut Fiber Reinforced High-Strength Concrete

Gervany Hurlich Mboungou Londe, John Nyiro Mwero, Christopher Kanali, Sylvester Ochieng Abuodha

Abstract


This study investigates the use of coconut fibers (CFs) derived from coconut husks to enhance the performance of high-strength concrete (HSC), aligning with sustainability goals through the reuse of agricultural waste. The objective was to assess the strength properties, water porosity, and sulfuric acid resistance of coconut fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete (CFR-HSC), targeting a mean compressive strength of 60 MPa. CFs underwent an alkali treatment involving boiling for one hour followed by immersion in a 1% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, which improved their surface morphology as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Concrete specimens with CFs contents of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% were evaluated. Increased CF contents content reduced workability and dry density, while compressive strength at 7 and 14 days improved by 2.31 and 13.02%, respectively, at 0.5% CF content but showed no significant improvement at 28 days. However, tensile and flexural strengths improved significantly, achieving the highest gains of 34.71 and 7.03% at 1% CF content, respectively. CFR-HSC exhibited increased water porosity but enhanced resistance to sulfuric acid, indicating improved durability under aggressive environments. These findings demonstrate the potential of NaOH-treated (NT) CFs to enhance tensile and flexural properties while improving chemical durability, offering a sustainable approach to advancing HSC performance.

 

Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-04-023

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Keywords


Coconut Fiber Reinforced High-Strength Concrete; Workability; Strength; Water Porosity; Sulfuric Acid.

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DOI: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-04-023

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