Creep Peformance of Kenaf Bio Fibrous Concrete Composite Under Uniaxial Compression

Abstract

The possibility of using bio fibre such as kenaf fibre, as short discontinuous reinforcement in concrete composite production, coupled with the evaluation of its long-term deformation characteristic was the challenge of the present investigation. This paper presented the results of an experimental study on the effects of the inclusion of kenaf natural fibre and age at loading (testing) on creep signature of the concrete. Creep tests were performed in the drying room with 50±4% relative humidity (drying creep and total deformation). Kenaf fibres were used at 50mm fibre length and volume fractions of 0.5% by volume of mix. Results available for specimens subjected to 25 and 35% of the strength in compression were presented. The final discussion compared the effect of kenaf fibre inclusion and age at loading of specimens subjected to compressive creep at two different stress levels. Low modulus fibrous concrete such as Kenaf biofibrous concrete composite demonstrated somewhat greater creep strains than the plain concrete, but the deformation behaviour shows improvement in ductility.