Assessment of Fiber content Effects on Mechanical Performance of Date Palm Fiber-Reinforced Concrete : A Resource-Efficient Study Using 50 mm Cubes

Abstract This study explores the use of Date Palm Fibres (DPFs) as a sustainable reinforcement for concrete, leveraging agricultural waste to address limitations of conventional building materials while promoting environmental sustainability. The fibers underwent alkaline treatment to enhance their bonding with the cement matrix and maximize reinforcing efficiency. The research systematically assesses the effect of different fiber ratios on compressive and split tensile strength, identifying an optimum content of 0.6%, while higher ratios caused fiber aggregation and reduced performance. To further evaluate the efficiency of fiber incorporation, normalized strength ratios (NSRs) were calculated by relating fiber-reinforced samples to the reference mix, providing a comparative metric across curing ages and strength types. The study also examines the influence of using 50 mm cube specimens for these tests, offering a reduced-scale preliminary assessment of fiber-reinforced concrete that minimizes material consumption and laboratory resources. Overall, the findings demonstrate the potential of DPFs to support more environmentally conscious and resource-efficient construction practices.