Abstract
The utilization of lightweight oil palm shell to produce high strength lightweight sustainable material has led many researchers towards its commercialization as structural concrete. However, the low tensile strength of Oil Palm Shell Concrete (OPSC) has hindered its development. This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties and flexural behaviours of OPSC by the addition of steel fibres of up to 3% by volume, to produce oil palm shell fibre-reinforced concrete (OPSFRC). The experimental results showed that the steel fibres significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of OPSFRC. The highest compressive strength, splitting tensile and flexural strengths of 55, 11.0 and 18.5 MPa, respectively, were achieved in the OPSFRC mix reinforced with 3% steel fibres. In addition, the flexural beam testing on OPSFRC beams with 3% steel fibres showed that the steel fibre reinforcement up to 3% produced notable increments in the moment capacity and crack resistance of OPSFRC beams, but accompanied by reduction in the ductility.
Highlights
The utilization of lightweight oil palm shell to produce high strength lightweight sustainable material has led many researchers towards its commercialization as structural concrete
The highest 28-day compressive strength of about 57 MPa was reported in the HT30 mix, which was 63% higher than the Oil Palm Shell Concrete (OPSC) mix
The addition of steel fibres in OPSC enhances the mechanical properties and flexural behaviours. This is the maiden attempt concerning the addition of a high volume of steel fibres in OPSC, and, the findings are significant
Summary
The utilization of lightweight oil palm shell to produce high strength lightweight sustainable material has led many researchers towards its commercialization as structural concrete. The low tensile strength of Oil Palm Shell Concrete (OPSC) has hindered its development. This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties and flexural behaviours of OPSC by the addition of steel fibres of up to 3% by volume, to produce oil palm shell fibre-reinforced concrete (OPSFRC). The wastes utilization process decreases the problems on scarcity of virgin materials, and reduces environmental pollution as well Lightweight aggregates, such as slag, pulverized fuel ash, furnace clinker, expanded clay, pumice and oil palm shell (OPS) are among the materials commonly used to replace granite aggregate to produce LWC [4]. Mechanical properties and flexural behaviours of OPSC and OPSFRC beams were investigated and compared to evaluate the feasibility of OPSFRC in special structures subjected to impact, blast or earthquake
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