Behaviour of High-Performance Concrete Beams With Silica and Pineapple Leaf Fiber for Enhanced Structural Behaviour

This study explores the mechanical performance of high-performance concrete (HPC) beams incorporating silica fume (SF), and nano silica (NS) as cement replacements and pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) as a secondary reinforcement for enhancing the strength of the beams. The objective of this research is to examine the load-bearing capacity, deflection and failure mode of the beams. Various proportions of SF (5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5) % and NS (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5) % were incorporated into the concrete mix, with a constant addition of 2.5 % PALF. The beams were cast, cured for 28 days, and subjected to static loading tests, employing single-point loading methods to assess their load-carrying capacities and flexural behaviour. Experimental results demonstrated that beams with 10 % SF and 2 % NS exhibited superior structural performance, achieving the highest load-carrying capacity among all tested mixes. Crack patterns indicated flexural failure in all specimens, affirming their ductile behaviour under loading conditions. This investigation highlights the synergistic effects of SF, NS, and PALF in enhancing the strength and ductility of HPC beams, offering promising insights for advanced construction applications.