Effects of Using Corn Cover Fibers on Some Mechanical Properties of Concrete

Abstract

This investigation aims to use corn cover as natural fibers in concrete mixes to improve some mechanical properties like compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength. using any type of fiber in concrete, in general, can improve the tensile and flexural strength of concrete. Concrete is weak in tension, so using fibers such as natural fibers like trunk fibers or industrial fibers such as steel fibers can improve tensile, the flexural strength of concrete and that may be decreasing the use of steel reinforcement in concrete, and also fibers can improve toughness and ductility of concrete because of its work inside the concrete that can reduce the propagation of cracks under loading. This study shows slight improvement on compressive strength by using fibers, but high increments in flexural strength, the optimum ratio of corn cover fibers was 2.5% by weight of cement which gives the highest values in compressive strength and flexural strength. compressive strength increased from (31.2 to 35.9) MPa (about 15% increment), increment for flexural strength was 70.6% for the optimum fibers content and the failure by using corn fibers was a ductile failure compared with plain concrete that gives sudden failure under flexure load, also tensile strength increased by using fibers, more fibers content beyond or more than 2.5% give lower values for the mechanical properties.