Study of Sustainable Concrete Reinforced with Bamboo Fibers

Undergraduate #371
Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Materials Science

Raul E. Marrero - University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus
Co-Author(s): Fernando R. Benítez, Hildélix L. Soto, and Oscar Marcelo Suárez, University of Puerto Rico –Mayaguez Campus, PR

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Direct correlations between increase in greenhouse gases and global temperature have been demonstrated by various researchers as increasing rate of polar ice melting is reported. As a consequence, scientists are forwarding the production of materials and technologies which can lower the carbon footprint. In particular, cement fabrication accounts for 5 to 10% of the planet’s total carbon dioxide emission. To reduce such carbon footprint of civil construction, this research focused on the effect of fly ash and Gadua angustifolia bamboo fibers addition to concrete mixes containing nanostructured SiO2. To this purpose, several designs were evaluated using compression and split tensile tests to measure these mechanical properties at 7, 14, 28 and 90 curing days. Our results showed an increase in both compression and tensile strength between 10 and 20% with the addition of bamboo fibers. Hence, such higher resistance concrete would translate in less consumption of raw materials use in structures to achieve similar strength values. Such reduction in materials utilization then would lower the environmental effect of concrete fabrication as well as the associated carbon dioxide emission.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through Grant No. 1345156 (CREST program).

Faculty Advisor: Oscar M. Suárez, msuarez@ece.uprm.edu