Green concrete production incorporating kenaf fibre and sorghum husk ash

Abstract

Due to the growing amount of waste generation from agricultural product, there has been a developing interest in the utilization of waste in producing building materials to achieve potential benefits and cleaner environment. This paper highlights the results of an experimental investigation on the performance of concrete incorporating Kenaf fibre (KF) and Sorghum Husk Ash (SHA) as partial replacements of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Five volume fractions of Kenaf fibre varying from 0% to 1.0% at an interval of 0.25% with a uniform length of 50 mm was used with OPC concrete mixes. Another five mixes were made that replaced OPC with 10% SHA. The specimens were cured in water and tested for fresh and hardened state properties. The combination of Kenaf fibre and SHA decreased the slump values and increased the VeBe time of fresh concrete. The addition of Kenaf fibre to either OPC or SHA concrete mixes showed a positive interaction that led to high tensile and flexural strengths, thereby increasing the concrete ductility with higher energy absorption and improved crack distribution. The maximum increases in tensile and flexural strengths compared to those of plain concrete were achieved by the addition of 0.5% Kenaf Fibre at the age of 56 days. The study showed that the use of KF and SHA in the production of sustainable green concrete is technically and environmentally achievable.