Enhancing Concrete Efficiency Through Sustainable Materials for Waste Management

The rising cost of construction materials, particularly cement and reinforcement bars, has significantly increased construction expenses. Additionally, the environmental concerns associated with cement production and the disposal of agricultural waste necessitate sustainable solutions. This study explores the potential of Coconut Fiber Ash (CFA) in combination with micro silica (MS) as an admixture to enhance concrete performance. While coconut fiber has traditionally been used to improve the tensile strength of concrete, this research investigates the impact of CFA on strength and durability. Experimental results indicate that incorporating 5%, 10%, and 15% CFA-MS leads to an increase in compressive and flexural strength at 28 days by 17.5%, 22.78%, 11.4% and 57.5%, 62.2%, 50.24%, respectively. Furthermore, tensile strength improved by 7.54%, 14.04%, and 24.96% for the same proportions. However, as the CFA-MS content increased, a slight reduction in compressive and flexural strength was observed, while split tensile strength showed significant enhancement. Additionally, flexural behaviour studies on CFA-MS concrete beams demonstrated their structural efficiency. This study highlights the potential of CFA-MS-modified concrete as a sustainable alternative in construction, contributing to improved mechanical performance and eco-friendly material utilization