Influence of high-performance polypropylene fibre and heat-treated dura oil palm shell on durability properties of lightweight concrete

Abstract

Oil palm shell (OPS) is a renewable resource obtained from agricultural solid end products via the extraction of palm oil. A study on preparing the lightweight concrete (LWC) using heat-treated and non-treated OPS aggregate has been investigated. High performance polypropylene fibre (HPPF) was incorporated in this oil palm shell concrete (OPSC) in different volume fraction (V f) (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1%). The performance of heat-treated and non-treated OPS fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) mixtures was evaluated by conducting comprehensive series of tests on fresh and hardened properties as well as durability properties and drying shrinkage. The Vee-Bee, density, compressive strength and stress-strain behaviour have been measured and evaluated. Rapid chloride penetration test (RCPT), porosity measurement, water absorption, initial surface absorption (ISA) and drying shrinkage tests have been performed in order to signify the effects of heat-treated OPSFRC on durability properties. The results showed that the ideal amount of HPPF has enhanced the durability of concrete by reducing chloride diffusion, porosity and water absorption. Hence, the findings of this investigation revealed the novelty of heat treatment method on OPS by incorporating HPPF, with promising durability properties and drying shrinkage of LWC as the sustainable solution in the construction industry.