Mechanical Properties and Microstructural Analysis of Banana Stem Fibre in M40 Grade Concrete

This paper investigates the natural fibre in concrete composites and is experimentally studied its mechanical behaviour and its microstructures. Banana stem fibre has been used as a fibre in the development of M40 concrete. Banana stem fibre can improve the sustainable alternative to other synthetic fibre used in concrete production to enhance the elastic property. The banana fibres have excellent in physical, chemical, and mechanical behaviour in a stage of concrete that is both fresh and hardened. The mechanical properties of BSFC (Banana stem fibre) were proven by testing the cube compression test, cylinder tensile test, flexural beam test, disc impact test and bond strength. The various additive percentages of banana stem fibre (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%) having 40 mm were used. The results indicate that the 0.75% of banana stem fibre achieves greater mechanical properties when compared with conventional concrete. The characterization study was made for the concrete samples which shows the C–S–H gel formation and voids present inside the specimen.