Experimental Investigation of Mechanical and Failure Analysis of Banana Stem Fibre in Concrete

The primary goal of the study was to perform research using natural fibres in grade M40 concrete to investigate the mechanical behaviour and flexural failure analysis of beam elements. Fibre-reinforced concrete is the fastest-developing concrete in construction techniques and is greatly used in all structural systems. To enhance sustainable development and introduce natural materials in concrete, the addition of banana fibre was studied. In this study, M40-grade concrete was used to improve sustainability and the performance of the concrete. By incorporating banana fibre into the concrete mix, the researchers may have aimed to reduce the environmental impact of the concrete by introducing a renewable and biodegradable material and also improve the performance of the concrete by reinforcing it with natural fibres. Flexural failure occurs in concrete due to the yielding of steel and the development of cracks in beams. Hence, using the fibres in concrete reduces cracks and shrinkage by improving flexural behaviour. The dosage of banana fibre varies from 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%, respectively, and the aspect ratio of 40 mm of the banana fibre used in the M40 grade. The experimental results show that the compressive strength increases when banana fibre dosage decreases, and the targeted strength for flexural behaviour is achieved at 1% of banana stem fibre used in concrete. This is due to the fibre tensile action added to the concrete in quantity.