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PROPERTIES OF FIBROUS LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE OF AGAVE SISALANA

Conference Paper · November 2013

DOI: 10.13140/2.1.3440.6082

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 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

PROPERTIES OF FIBROUS LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE

OF AGAVE SISALANA

(Code of paper: S/ IM/ WR/ GE/ T)

Akmaluddin Suryawan Murtiadi
Civil Engineering Department, Civil Engineering Department,
Faculty of Engineering – Mataram University Faculty of Engineering – Mataram University
Head of Structural Engineering and Member of Structural Engineering and
Construction Material Research Group – Construction Material Research Group –
Mataram University Mataram University
Jl. Majapahit No. 62 Mataram, Jl. Majapahit No. 62 Mataram,
Telp: (0370) 636126 Telp: (0370) 636126
akmal@ftunram.ac.id; s.murtiadi@yahoo.co.uk

Suparjo Zaedar Gazalba

Civil Engineering Department, Civil Engineering Department,
Faculty of Engineering – Mataram University Faculty of Engineering – Mataram University
Member of Structural Engineering and Member of Structural Engineering and
Construction Material Research Group Construction Material Research Group
Mataram University Mataram University
Jl. Majapahit No. 62 Mataram, Jl. Majapahit No. 62 Mataram,
Telp: (0370) 636126 Telp: (0370) 636126
suparjo14867@yahoo.com zaedargazalba@yahoo.co.id

Abstract
This paper investigates fibrous lightweight concrete containing natural fiber of agave sisalana. The fibers
were cut into 60 mm length and put into concrete mixture. Compressive strength and elastic modulus of the
concrete mixture were evaluated. Seven set of cylinder specimen were considered. Each set of the specimens
consisted of four cylinder specimens containing fiber volume fraction of 0%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%,
1.5%, and 2%. The concrete mix was designed to produce a compressive strength of 12 MPa. The test results
showed the compressive strength and elastic modulus increase with the increased fiber contents from 0.5% to
1.5%. The maximum compressive strength was achieved at the addition of 1.5% fiber content which
produced strength of 17 MPa. All fibrous concrete unit-weights are less than 1850 kg/m3 which is identified
as lightweight concrete criterion. In addition, a model to estimate fibrous concrete elastic modulus of sisal
fiber was proposed. This model was valid for 0.5% up to 1.5% fiber contents. It is also not recommended to
apply sisal fiber content below 1% as gave strength lower than concrete without fiber.

Key Words: lightweight concrete, sisal fiber, compressive strength, elastic modulus

INTRODUCTION
Lightweight concrete is widely used as part of building component with its moderate
compressive strength, low-cost and plentiful raw material available in some places.
However, concrete in general has some shortcomings, for instance, shrinkage and cracking,
low tensile and flexural strength that restrict its applications. To counteract the cracks, an
aggressive strategy has come into use in the recent years, which mixes the concrete with
discrete fibers (ACI C-544, 1996). Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has been successfully
used in construction with its excellent flexural-tensile strength, resistance to splitting,
 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

impact resistance and excellent permeability, and frost. Several different types of fibers,
both manmade and natural, have been incorporated into concrete (Suhaendi and Horiguchi,
2006). Application of natural fibers in concrete preceded the advent of conventional
reinforced concrete in the historical context (Poon et al., 2004). However, the technical
aspects of FRC systems remained essentially undeveloped. Many types of fibers applied
into concrete mixed has been well known such as steel fiber, synthetic fibers such as glass
fibers which have superior properties in strength, continuity and zero water absorption.
This fiber types combined with natural fiber to make a hybrid composite fibers have been
studied by John, et al. (2004). Their result showed that tensile strength of polyester-fiber
composites hybrid sisal/glass fiber was affected by the composition of the fibers variation
and the tensile strength of the composite increases with increasing portion of hybrid glass
fiber.

The use of plant fibers in polymer composites provides some advantages such as having a
high specific strength, low cost, low density, biodegradable and lightweight (Bismarck et
al., 2006; Khoatane et al., 2008). Sisal is one of plant species called Bali Pineapple (agave
sisalana weberi) in Indonesia, in which the characteristics of the plants is similar to the
pineapple but unfruitful, its leaves are generally sharp, thick, and stiff.

Pumice lightweight concrete is also experiencing growth applications such as for precast
wall panels and lightweight structural components. With the advantages of the fibers and
the shortcoming of the lightweight concrete (akmaluddin and Murtiadi, 2013) then
applying the fibers into the lightweight concrete mixture is a great deal to short it out the
lightweight concrete problems. Thus this study aims to discuss the presence of sisal fiber in
concrete mixture in terms of its compressive strength, elastic modulus and density.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
Preparation of Fiber Materials
Figure 1 shows the pineapple plant use in this study and its manually process to obtain sisal
fiber. To produce the fibers from the pineapple leaves it can be done by scrapping 60 mm
length of the leaves by a simple way using the equipment of bamboo as shown in right side
on Figure 1. But this method requires a much time to produce the fibers, thus machines
scrap has been manufactured to speed up the process. Once the fibers obtained the drying
process was done in room temperature for a day.

To obtain fiber tensile strength a bundle of fibers were made with approximately diameter
of 8 mm to facilitate easy gripping in the machine test. Test result showed a maximum
tensile strength of sisal of 30 MPa and has a unit weight of 336.6 kg/m3. In addition, the
fibers were cut to a length of 60 mm and mixed with the lightweight concrete mixture. The
concrete mixture was set as shown in Table 1 to obtain designed strength of 12 MPa. Fiber
volume fractions were specified as 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, 1.5% and 2%.
 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

Figure 1. Pineapple Plant and Process Obtaining Fiber Manually

Table 1 Concrete Mixture Proportions

Mixture proportion
Type of Target strength
concrete f’c, MPa Cement Sand Pumice
w/c
kg/m3 kg/m3 kg/m3
Lightweight 12 0.94 367 473 378

Specimens Preparation
Seven set of cylinder specimen variation were prepared. Each set of the variations
consisted of four specimens. Cylinder size used is 150 mm diameter and 300 mm height.
Figure 4 shows preparation process in making specimens. Left side of Figure 4 is an
activity of adding sisal fiber into in the concrete mixture whilst right side of the figure
shows specimen ready for curing and testing. Curing concrete specimen was referred to
standard test specimen per ASTM C-192.

Figure 4. Fibrous Concrete Specimen Preparation

 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

Instrumentation and Test Procedure

A compression test machine available in the Laboratory of Structure and Material Faculty
of Engineering University of Mataram was used. The machine has loading capacity about
300 kN and can store data using computer data acquisition system automatically. Test
results for both compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of the specimen obtained
straightforward from once testing process. Figure 5 shows set-up specimen in terms of
testing both concrete compressive strength and its elastic modulus.

Figure 5. Set-up Compression and Modulus of Elasticity Test

TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Concrete Compressive Strength
Experimental data for compressive strength of concrete is obtained from testing concrete
cylinders destructively. Typical stress-strain relationship of the cylinder test specimens is
shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Typical Cylinder Specimen Test Results

 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

From the figure it can be obtained maximum compressive strength of the specimen which
is shown as a peak point in the graph. Using the graph it can be sorted out the value of
elastic modulus of concrete experimentally by applying Eq. (1).
S2  S1
Ec  (1)
 2  0.00005

where: S2 is compressive strength at the stress level of 0.4 f’c. S1 is the compressive
strength at the strain of 0.00005. ε2 is the strain reading on the compressive strength value
of S2.
Modulus of elasticity of lightweight concrete without fibers can be calculated theoretically
using Eq. (2) below.

Ec  0.65  4700 fc' (2)

The compressive strength test results for varieties fiber contents in the lightweight concrete
mixture are presented in Figure 7. It can be seen in the figure that from 0.5% to 1.5% fibers
content the concrete strength increased gradually from about 10 MPa to 17 MPa. However
it can be clear noticed from the figure that additional fiber of 0.5% and 0.75% has lower
strength than that of the concrete without containing fiber (0%). This phenomenon is
suspected due to the fiber contents in the concrete mixture undistributed uniformly
throughout the concrete matrix.

18
16
14
12
f'c (MPa)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0.00 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 2.00
Fiber Contents (%)

Figure 7. Fiber Concrete Compressive Strength Variation

Additional fiber higher than 1.5% volume fraction in the concrete mixture did not produce
strength better than that of concrete with 1.5% as shown in the figure. It is predicted
because of pretty much fiber contents may hinder the movement of cement paste to fill the
empty spaces in the concrete matrix. This lead to brittle concrete due to void on pumice
aggregate did not fill in by cement paste properly.
With reference to Figure 7 it also found that only one type of fiber concrete that meets the
criteria as a structural concrete as the concrete compressive strength reaches values over 17
MPa (ASTM C330-89). Thus the lightweight concrete with fiber volume fraction of 1.5%
 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

may represent structural fibrous lightweight concrete.

Using Eq.(1), the elastic modulus of fibrous lightweight concrete experimentally was
obtained as presented in Figure 8. Results showed that the values were varied between
6000 and 12000 MPa with the trend identical to the compressive strength test results.
When applying Eq. (2) then elastic modulus of elasticity was obtained of 10500 MPa for
lightweight concrete without fiber. This gives experimental elastic modulus value about
0.76 or 8000/10500 of the theoretical value. This can be argued as the theoretical model
was developed in general for the lightweight concrete without specifically considering
pumice aggregate.

14,000
12,000
10,000
Ec (MPa)

8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
0.00 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 2.00
Fiber Contents (%)

Figure 8. Effect of Fiber Contents in the Modulus of Elasticity

All the specimens are also measured its density. Average density values for all cylindrical
specimens are presented in Figure 9 below. From the figure it is clear that the density value
of all the specimens below the density maximum value of 1850 kg/m3 (ACI, 2005) as
shown by dash line for lightweight concrete categories. Thus all the specimens are
classified as lightweight concrete.
2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
ρ (kg/m3)

1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
0.00 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 2.00
Fiber Contents (%)

Figure 9. Density Variation of Fibrous Concrete

 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

Referring to Eq.(2) it is clear that modulus of elasticity has a linier relationship with
compressive strength. The equation model agrees with the test results as shown in Figure
10 below. It is clear from the figure that with the increasing compressive strength elastic
modulus of the concrete are also increased.
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
Ec (MPa)

8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
5 10 15 20 25
f'c (MPa)

Figure 10. Elastic Modulus vs Compressive Strength of Concrete Fibers

To account for the effect of fiber content in the concrete mixture it is necessary to develop
mathematical model for the relationship between the modulus of elasticity and
compressive strength. Thus, using available data in this study then the data were
manipulated and presented in terms of Ec(1+v) in the y-axis and √f'c in the x-axis as shown
in Figure 11, where v is the representation of fiber contents (%).
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
Ec(1+v)

y = 23167x - 66090
20,000
R² = 0.9856
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00
√f'c

Figure 11. Determining the Relationship of Ec and f'c

When a linier regression is applied in the data gives R2 = 0985. This means that the
relationship is strong with less than 2 % deviate data occur. This relationship can be
worked out to produce a mathematical model as given in Eq. (3) below.
 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

66090  23167 f c'

Ec  (3)
1 
where: v = volume fraction of fibers in concrete (%).
To compare an experimental and predicted elastic modulus thus Eq. (1) and Eq. (3) are
applied respectively. The results of comparison are presented in Figure 12. It is clear from
the figure that all the predicted value almost agrees with the experimental value for fiber
contents from 0.5 % to 1.5%. At a volume fraction of 2%, predicted value lower than that
of the experimental value with differentiate about 2000 MPa. Thus Eq. (3) valid only for
predicting fibrous lightweight concrete with fiber content between 0.5% and 1.5%.
18,000
16,000 Ec(exp)
14,000
Ec(prop)
12,000
Ec (MPa)

10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
0.00 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 2.00
Fiber Contents (%)

Figure 12. Ec Values at Various Fiber Contents

Table 2 provide more detail comparison of existing model, Eq.(2), and proposed model,
Eq.(3) to the experimental model, Eq.(1) as given in column (6) and (7) of Table 2
respectively.
Table 2 Comparison of Ec
v (%) f’c Ec (1) Ec(2) Ec(3) Ratio
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)=(4)/(3) (7)=(5)/(3)
0.00 12.45 8311.69 10,779.20 15,651.94 1.297 1.883
0.50 10.75 7056.71 10,017.33 6,582.97 1.420 0.933
0.75 11.51 7458.54 10,362.85 7,139.82 1.389 0.957
1.00 13.39 8677.98 11,180.05 9,345.85 1.288 1.077
1.25 14.01 8795.28 11,433.06 9,160.19 1.300 1.041
1.50 17.69 12890.58 12,846.95 12,532.94 0.997 0.972
2.00 14.52 9943.75 11,642.86 7,400.46 1.171 0.744

At 0.5% to 1.5% fiber contents, ratio existing model to the experimental value various
between 0.997 and 1.420. Whilst, ratio proposed model to the experimental values are
close to 1 as can be seen in Table 2 of column (6) and (7) respectively. Thus, an existing
model can only be used for estimating lightweight concrete in general and the proposed
model valid to be applied for predicting sisal-fibrous concrete modulus of elasticity.
 The 16th FSTPT International Symposium, UMS Surakarta, 1 – 3 Nov 2013

CONCLUSIONS
From this research, several conclusions can be drawn as follow:
1. The addition of sisal fibers into the concrete mixture significantly affects the
compressive strength and elastic modulus of fibrous lightweight concrete.
2. Fibrous lightweight concrete containing less than 1% sisal fiber produce compressive
strength less than strength of the normal lightweight concrete (0%).
3. Maximum compressive strength of 17 MPa was achieved at the fibrous lightweight
concrete with 1.5% fiber contents.
4. Unit-weight of fibrous lightweight concretes were less than 1850 kg/m3 which is
identified as lightweight concrete criterion.
5. The empirical formula to calculate the elastic modulus of fibrous lightweight concrete
of sisal fiber was proposed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Grateful acknowledgement is addressed to the Director of Directorate Research and Community Service for
the financial support through the National Strategy Research Scheme under Directorate General of Higher
Education, Ministry of National Education and Culture, Republic of Indonesia.

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Elsevier Ltd.
ASTM-C192. Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the
Laboratory. ASTM
ASTM-C330, 1989. Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete.
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Bismarck, A., Baltazar, Y.J. & Sarlkakis, K. 2006. Green Composites as Panacea? Socio-
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John, K., & Naidu, S. 2004. Tensile Properties of Unsaturated Polyester-Based Sisal
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