Enhancing mechanical properties of mortar with short and thin banana fibers: A sustainable alternative to synthetic fibers

The use of fiber in mortar/concrete is now common for enhancing the flexural and ductility properties of structures. However, the utilization of synthetic fibers contributes to the emission of harmful greenhouse gases. Replacing these synthetic fibers with natural fibers derived from waste plants is imperative for sustainable development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of short and thin banana fibers in enhancing the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced mortar, specifically in terms of compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strengths. The base mortar, with a water-cement ratio of 0.30 and a unit water content of 298 kg/m