Efficiency of Supplementary Cementitious Materials and Natural Fiber on Mechanical Performance of Concrete

In this research study, mechanical properties of silica fume bagasse ash plain concrete (SFBA-PC) and silica fume bagasse ash basalt fiber-reinforced concrete (SFBA-BFRC) are studied. A total of fifteen concrete mixes are prepared for three separate concrete groups (five for each concrete group). The first group of SFBA-PC contains fixed optimum content of silica fume, i.e., 8%, by cement mass, and variable contents of bagasse ash, i.e., 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%, by cement mass. In the second and third groups of SFBA-BFRC, mixes are prepared like the first group of concrete, but only basalt fibers are added with two different percentages of 0.5% and 1.0%, by concrete volume, respectively. For the evaluation of each concrete mix, different mechanical tests are conducted to determine the stress–strain and load–deflection behavior. In addition to this, split-tensile strength and water absorption tests are also performed for each type of concrete mix. The scanning electron microscopy (SCM) analysis is performed, which has confirmed the pozzolanic activity and filler effect caused by SCMs, which has also improved the bridging effects of basalt fiber that results in concrete strength improvement. The results indicated that the mechanical properties of SFBA-BFRC are generally improved in comparison with those of SFBA-PC. In all three groups of concrete, 10% BA is found to be the optimum content, and SFBA-BFRC containing 8% silica fume, 10% bagasse ash and 1.0% basalt fiber content showed overall better performance under multiple testing scenarios.