Experimental Study of Concrete Using Natural Coconut Fiber

This study provides an experimental investigation of the performance of concrete reinforced using natural coconut fiber with a view to improving its mechanical strengths and sustainability factors. Coconut fiber, a by- product of agriculture, is cheap, eco-friendly, and has good tensile strength, which makes it a good concrete-reinforcing additive. The research examines the influence of adding different proportions of coconut fiber (0%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) on the workability, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength of concrete. The concrete samples were cast and then tested after different curing times of 7, 14, and 28 days. The results show that incorporation of coconut fiber enhances tensile and flexural performance as a result of its bridging action of microcracks, but a moderate loss in compressive strength is noticed at higher fiber contents. The best fiber content was found to be 1%, which had the optimal combination of strength and workability. This research shows that coconut fiber is a very promising, environmentally friendly reinforcement material that can improve the performance of concrete while helping to utilize waste and promote environmental sustainability.