Enhancing Structural Performance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete using Coconut Fiber: A Quantitative Analysis

Natural fibers are gaining attention for their benefits in both artificial and natural contexts. Using natural fibers in reinforced composites can reduce dependency on conventional concrete-making materials and mitigate environmental impact. This paper examines the effect of coconut fibers on the compressive strength of recycled aggregate (RA) concrete, focusing on the development of sustainable and ductile cementitious composites through the optimization of coconut fibers and construction waste. Specifically, the study investigates the impact of different percentages of coconut fiber (0%, 3%, 5%, and 7% by volume of the mix) on the compressive strength of concrete incorporating varying amounts of RA (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%). The performance of these mixes was evaluated based on workability, density, and compressive strength (CS). The results showed that as the amount of RA increased, compressive strength decreased. To regain maximum strength, a preferable amount of 5% coconut fibers is required for each constant level of the water-cement ratio. Concrete incorporating 25% coarse RA with 5% coconut fibers exhibited compressive strength comparable to conventional concrete. The highest compressive strength for concrete made using 50% coarse RA with 0.3 water-cement ratio was achieved with 5% coconut fibers. This study recommends using 5% coconut fibers to attain optimal mechanical performance. The main scope of this paper highlights the potential use of coconut fibers in fibrous composites to partially replace conventional materials.