Effect of Date Palm Leaf Fiber on Mechanical Properties of Concrete

Abeer I. Alwared; Suhair K. A. Al-Hubboubi; Daad Saad Dawood

Abeer I. Alwared Asst.Prof.-Environmental Department Engineering College Baghdad University-Iraq
Suhair K. A. Al-Hubboubi Environmental Department Engineering College Baghdad University-Iraq
Daad Saad Dawood Environmental Department Engineering College Baghdad University-Iraq

Keywords: Leaf Fiber; Concrete; Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Searching of “green” or environmentally friendly materials in building industry involves the development of new materials, but might also lead to the reconsideration of traditional ones. The date palm is one of the common wastes abundantly available in the Middle East countries especially in Iraq. The present study aims to investigate the performance and effects of palm date leaf fiber on the mechanical properties of concrete, Leaf fiber (L) was used in three percentages 0.4, 0.8 and 1 % volume fraction with curing ages of 7, 28 , 90 and 120 days. A comparison was carried out for both untreated (UL) and 1% NaOH- treated palm date leaf fiber (TL). Results demonstrated major improvement in the compressive strength by 9.37% for UL1.0 and13.65% for TL0.8 and increase in flexural strength by 3.37% for UL1.0 and 7% for TL1.0. A decrease in splitting tensile strength was observed by 9.87% and 8.3 % for UL1.0 and TL1.0 respectively. A significant improvement in the impact resistance by 94.74% and 131.58% for UL0.4 and TL1.0 respectively, was observed at age 120 days curing.