Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Concrete Using Natural Fiber Reinforcement: A Comparative Study of Bamboo, Banana, and Jute Fibers

Authors

  • Md. Liton Rabbani University of Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4728-1658
  • Md. Rashedul Islam University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Md. Shahoriar Pulok University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Rakibul Hasan University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Md. Shaheen Al Mamun Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
  • Dhruboraj Roy University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Rafaun Sultana Shiuly University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Md. Atiqul Hasan University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64539/sjer.v2i3.2026.458

Keywords:

Natural Fiber, Bamboo Fiber, Banana Fiber, Jute Fiber, Enhance, Properties of Concrete, Strength

Abstract

With the construction industry seeking to mitigate its carbon footprint, utilizing agricultural by-products as reinforcement offers a promising pathway toward eco-friendly infrastructure. While previous studies have explored synthetic fibers, there remains a critical research gap in the comparative performance and statistical consistency of diverse natural fibers like banana, jute, and bamboo within a concrete matrix. This study investigates the mechanical properties of concrete mixes incorporating these fibers at varying volume fractions (0.5%–2.0%). The evaluation focuses on compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths at 7-day and 28-day curing intervals. Key findings reveal that banana fiber at 0.5% achieved the highest absolute compressive and flexural strengths of 37.32 MPa and 6.12 MPa, respectively, after 28 days. However, performance for banana and jute fibers generally declined at higher dosages due to increased porosity. Conversely, bamboo fiber demonstrated superior reliability and consistency, reaching a peak split tensile strength of 5.02 MPa at 2.0% loading and maintaining steady growth across all proportions. This suggests that while banana fiber provides maximum load-bearing capacity at low volumes, bamboo fiber is preferable for applications requiring predictable mechanical scaling. These results provide foundational data for the implementation of natural fiber-reinforced concrete in sustainable structural applications, highlighting a viable strategy for reducing reliance on carbon-intensive materials while enhancing the energy absorption and ductility of cementitious composites.

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Published

2026-05-05

How to Cite

Rabbani, M. L., Islam, M. R., Pulok, M. S., Hasan, R., Mamun, M. S. A., Roy, D., … Hasan, M. A. (2026). Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Concrete Using Natural Fiber Reinforcement: A Comparative Study of Bamboo, Banana, and Jute Fibers. Scientific Journal of Engineering Research, 2(3), 309–326. https://doi.org/10.64539/sjer.v2i3.2026.458

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