Experimental study on pineapple leaf fiber reinforced concrete for sustainable infrastructure

The mechanical properties of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) in concrete are evaluated in this study. Concrete mixtures with varying percentages of 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1% pineapple leaf fibers were cast and tested at curing ages of 7, 14, and 28 days. The mechanical properties of the concrete mixes were examined, and the results showed a non-linear relationship between the percentage of pineapple leaf fibers and the mechanical properties. The optimal percentage of pineapple leaf fibers in the concrete mix was found to be 0.25%, and the superplasticizer content was 0.05%. The compressive strength of concrete was found to increase by 7.46%, split tensile strength by 13-15%, and flexural strength by 12.5%. The modulus of elasticity was also found to increase by 3.8%. The increase in the mechanical properties of concrete can be attributed to the crack-bridging effect of PALF, resulting in improvements in tensile strength and elasticity. The results were in accordance with the previous studies carried out on the mechanical properties of concrete, where the addition of natural fiber-reinforced concrete resulted in improved tensile and flexural properties, and the addition of a higher percentage of fiber resulted in decreased performance of concrete. The pineapple leaf fibers can be considered to be efficient as a secondary reinforcement for concrete mixes.