Mechanical Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Hybrid Natural Plant Fibers
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The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials has encouraged the exploration of natural fibers as alternative reinforcement in concrete. This study investigates the mechanical performance of concrete reinforced with hybrid natural fibers derived from Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake Plant) and Ficus elastica (Rubber Tree). Concrete specimens were prepared with fiber contents of 0%, 0.25%, 0.375%, and 0.5% by volume and cured for 14 days under controlled conditions. The compressive and flexural strengths were determined using standard testing procedures, and the results were analysed using descriptive statistics and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results showed that the addition of hybrid natural fibers significantly affected the compressive strength of concrete (F = 23.56, p = 0.00025), with strength decreasing as fiber content increased. The control specimen (0% fiber) exhibited the highest compressive strength (18.41 MPa), while the 0.5% fiber content yielded the lowest mean compressive strength (7.39 MPa) and the highest variability (CV ≈ 38.97%). In contrast, flexural strength showed no statistically significant difference among the groups (F = 0.44, p = 0.73), indicating that fiber incorporation did not substantially enhance bending performance at 14 days of curing. Overall, the findings suggest that while hybrid Snake Plant and Rubber Tree fibers may contribute to crack-bridging potential, their inclusion at the tested proportions does not improve early-age compressive strength and may reduce mechanical consistency at higher fiber contents. Further studies are recommended to optimize fiber treatment, proportioning, and curing duration to improve performance outcomes.
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