Flexural performance of concrete beams reinforced with fiber ropes as partial sustainable reinforcement

Abstract Incorporating green materials into construction minimally impacts eco-sustainability and the preservation of natural resources. A major challenge in reinforced concrete structures is the corrosion of steel reinforcement under harsh environmental conditions. This research aims to develop sustainable high-strength concrete with agricultural fiber byproducts to partially replace steel reinforcements and partially analyze its structural performance. Five reinforced concrete beams, comprising a 150 × 200 mm cross-section and 1800 mm span, underwent four-point static load testing. The study included one control beam and four beams where one-third of the steel reinforcement was replaced with natural and synthetic fiber ropes: banana, palm leaf sheath, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate ropes. Structural behavior performance in load–deflection, toughness, ductility index, and failure modes were studied. The concrete matrix of all beams includes 2% of palm leaf sheath fiber to control the crack developments. Natural fiber ropes demonstrated superior capacity deformation, crack control, and ductility achievements over synthetic fiber rope, even while ultimate load capacity decreased by 25.3–39%. Experimental data from measurements agreed with theoretical estimations within the ratio range of 1.02–1.30. The results confirm that natural fibers significantly enhance ductility and energy dissipation, making them a promising sustainable alternative to steel reinforcement.