An investigative study on the mechanical properties of jute, nylon, and coconut fiber reinforced concrete

Fibers are added to concrete as crack arresters to improve mechanical properties, but their impact behavior remains poorly documented. This paper investigates the influence of fiber type (jute, nylon, coconut) and dosage on impact resistance and strength by performing a repeated drop-weight impact test according to ACI 544.2R with customized equipment. Concrete samples were exposed to different drop weights, namely, 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5 kg, to simulate various impact levels. In this study, among all mixes, coconut-fiber concrete showed the best performance: it increased absorbed impact energy by ~ 133–220% compared to plain concrete. This improvement was likely due to the better bonding between the fibers and the matrix. Static properties also improved: compressive strength rose by up to 49%, and splitting tensile strength by up to 24% compared with conventional concrete. The novelty in this study is that a systematic multi-weight comparison between natural (jute, coconut) and synthetic fibers under repeated impacts is done with corroborating strength data. These findings have practical implications for designing tougher, longer-lasting concretes.