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Showing papers on "SISAL published in 2022"



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the effect of hybridization on the mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid composites reinforced with several types of natural fibers (i.e., sisal, jute, curauá, ramie, banana, etc.) or natural fibers combined with synthetic fibers is presented.
Abstract: Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFRCs) have demonstrated great potential for many different applications in various industries due to their advantages compared to synthetic fiber-reinforced composites, such as low environmental impact and low cost. However, one of the drawbacks is that the NFRCs present relatively low mechanical properties and the absorption of humidity due to the hydrophilic characteristic of the natural fibre. One method to increase their performance is hybridization. Therefore, understanding the properties and potential of using multiple reinforcement’s materials to develop hybrid composites is of great interest. This paper provides an overview of the recent advances in hybrid natural fiber reinforced polymer composites. First, the main factors that affect the performance of hybrid fiber-reinforced composites were briefly discussed. The effect of hybridization on the mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid composites reinforced with several types of natural fibers (i.e., sisal, jute, curauá, ramie, banana, etc.) or natural fibers combined with synthetic fibers is presented. Finally, the water absorption behaviour of hybrid fiber-reinforced composites is also discussed. It was concluded that the main challenges that need to be addressed in order to increase the use of natural-natural or natural-synthetic hybrid composites in industry are the poor adhesion between natural fibers and matrix, thermal stability and moisture absorption of natural fibers. Some of these challenges were addressed by recent development in fibers treatment and modification, and product innovation (hybridization).

29 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors reported experimental research regarding the mechanical characteristics of concrete reinforced with natural cellulosic fibers like jute, sisal, sugarcane, and coconut.
Abstract: The paper reports experimental research regarding the mechanical characteristics of concrete reinforced with natural cellulosic fibers like jute, sisal, sugarcane, and coconut. Each type of natural fiber, with an average of 30 mm length, was mixed with a concrete matrix in varying proportions of 0.5% to 3% mass. The tensile and compressive strength of the developed concrete samples with cellulosic fiber reinforcement gradually increased with the increasing proportion of natural cellulosic fibers up to 2%. A further increase in fiber loading fraction results in deterioration of the mechanical properties. By using jute and sisal fiber reinforcement, about 11.6% to 20.2% improvement in tensile and compressive strength, respectively, was observed compared to plain concrete, just by adding 2% of fibers in the concrete mix. Bending strength increased for the natural fiber-based concrete with up to 1.5% fiber loading. However, a decrease in bending strength was observed beyond 1.5% loading due to cracks at fiber−concrete interface. The impact performance showed gradual improvement with natural fiber loading of up to 2%. The water absorption capacity of natural cellulosic fiber reinforced concrete decreased substantially; however, it increased with the loading percent of fibers. The natural fiber reinforced concrete can be commercially used for interior or exterior pavements and flooring slabs as a sustainable construction material for the future.

27 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors explored a new method to reduce autogenous shrinkage of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) by incorporating natural sisal fibers, which can restrain the cement hydration process and delay the setting times.

24 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors provide a comprehensive knowledge on extraction techniques, treatment methodologies, and properties of these uncommon natural fibers so that these novel materials can be utilized efficiently as a reinforcing material in different polymer matrix.
Abstract: Nowadays, as environmental awareness is key issue among researchers, scientific community is looking for natural materials as they are biodegradable, low cost, eco-friendly and also safe for health. Researchers and academicians have found many natural fibers and studied their properties for their sustainable applications in various possible sectors, and studies are also going on. So, in that context several natural fiber like jute, sisal, banana, pineapple, flax, hemp, kenaf, bamboo, cornstalk waste, coir, etc. have been successfully utilized as a reinforcing material in polymer composites by replacing man made synthetic fiber. Apart from traditional natural fibers, scientific community is also looking for locally available natural fibers across the globe in different geographical locations for successful reinforcement in polymer matrix. This will not only decrease burden on traditional fibers and but also at the same time it would be helpful to enrich the rural economy. Natural fiber based composites can be used in different areas such as auto motive industry, construction industry, sports industry and food industry. This study is related with extraction, characterization, surface treatment thermal analysis and activation energy of different uncommon natural fibers available at different geographical locations worldwide. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive knowledge on extraction techniques, treatment methodologies, and properties of these uncommon natural fibers so that these novel materials can be utilized efficiently as a reinforcing material in different polymer matrix. Discussions on traditional natural fibers like Bagasse, Wheat straw, Coir, Pineapple, Banana etc. have been compiled extensively in various review papers but compilation on these new uncommon natural fibers is rare. Thermal analysis along with activation energy evaluation is another aspect which has been given emphasis in discussion because this is also a very important examination to evaluate the thermal stability of these natural fibers. • Review on natural fibers for sustainable applications. • Overview on reinforcing material in polymer composites by replacing man made synthetic fiber. • Review on thermal analysis of various previously studied natural fibers.

21 citations


Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2022
TL;DR: In this paper , the behavior and performance of ecofriendly fiber-reinforced concretes produced with fly ash, a byproduct of thermal power plants, as a partial substitute for cement, and coconut shell, a discarded agricultural solid waste, as coarse aggregates, with the incorporation of manufactured fiber (steel fiber), and plant-based natural fibers (sisal and roselle fibers).
Abstract: Environmental sustainability and ecofriendliness are essential components of the present and future construction industry. Ecofriendly fiber-reinforced concrete is one example of sustainable solutions in the built environment. This chapter discusses on the development of ecofriendly fiber-reinforced concretes, with a special focus to the work undertaken by the authors on the behavior and performance of ecofriendly fiber-reinforced concretes produced with fly ash, a byproduct of thermal power plants, as a partial substitute for cement, and coconut shell, a discarded agricultural solid waste, as coarse aggregates, with the incorporation of manufactured fiber (steel fiber), and plant-based natural fibers (sisal and roselle fibers). The development process as well as the mechanical properties of the resulting ecofriendly fiber-reinforced concretes were studied. The findings showed that the manufactured and natural fibers revealed a promising result on the strength and mechanical characteristics of coconut-shell aggregate-based ecofriendly fiber-reinforced concretes.

21 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , an innovative bio-nanocomposite (sisal-Fe/Zn layered double hydroxide) has been synthesized using a co-precipitation method for the first time and was used for the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants.
Abstract: Abstract In the present study, sisal–Fe/Zn LDH bio-nanocomposite for efficiently removing rifampin was synthesized using a simple co-precipitation method. SEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses were applied to characterize the prepared composite. In the following, different factors that are affecting the adsorption of rifampin, including contact time, initial rifampin concentration, adsorbent dosage, and temperature were evaluated. Also, the kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies were investigated. The results indicated that Freundlich (R 2 = 0.9976) was a suitable model for describing the adsorption equilibrium and adsorption kinetic showed that the data are in maximum agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R 2 = 0.9931). According to the Langmuir isotherm model, the maximum adsorption capacity of rifampin was found to be 40.00 mg/g. The main mechanisms for rifampin elimination were introduced as electrostatic attraction and physical adsorption. Moreover, the spontaneity and nature of the reaction were analyzed by elucidating thermodynamic factors that indicated the adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous. Also, the batch process design indicated that for treating 10 L wastewater containing 100 mg/L rifampin with a removal efficiency of 96%, the needed amount of sisal–Fe/Zn LDH is 51.6 g. This study revealed that the sisal–Fe/Zn LDH bio-nanocomposites as a low-cost adsorbent have promising adsorption potential. Novelty statement In this study, an innovative bio-nanocomposite (sisal–Fe/Zn layered double hydroxide) has been synthesized using a co-precipitation method for the first time and was used for the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants. Sisal–Fe/Zn LDH exhibited an excellent adsorption capacity of 40.00 mg/g to remove rifampin from the aqueous solution. The main mechanisms for rifampin elimination were introduced as electrostatic attraction and physical adsorption. Also, the batch process design showed that for treating 10 L wastewater containing 100 mg/L rifampin with a removal rate of 96%, the amount of sisal–LDH bio-nanocomposite required is about 51.6 g. Therefore, sisal–Fe/Zn layered double hydroxide as an eco-friendly biosorbent can be considered for future water treatment. Graphical Abstract

19 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , a review article summarizes the published literature and identifies future research gaps on the behavior of coir-reinforced composites for civil engineering applications, including the benefits and drawbacks of using coir as fiber reinforcement in concrete.

19 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
07 Jul 2022-Crystals
TL;DR: The use of short discrete fibers has displayed a lot of potential in overcoming abrupt failure and limited energy absorption when yielding as discussed by the authors , and SSF is a potential reinforcement for use in concrete because of its cheap cost, low density, high specific strength and modulus, negligible health risk, easy accessibility in certain states, and renewability.
Abstract: Concrete is a commonly used building material; however, it is subject to abrupt failure and limited energy absorption when yielding. The use of short discrete fibers has displayed a lot of potential in overcoming these issues. Sisal is a natural fiber that is renewable, inexpensive, and readily accessible. SSF is a potential reinforcement for use in concrete because of its cheap cost, low density, high specific strength and modulus, negligible health risk, easy accessibility in certain states, and renewability. In current centuries, there has been growing importance in discovering new uses for SSF-reinforced concrete, which is normally utilized to make ropes, mats, carpets, and other decorative items. This article gives an overview of current advancements in SSF and composites. The qualities of SSF, the interface between SSF and the matrix, and SSF-reinforced properties such as fresh, mechanical strength, and durability have all been examined. The results show that SSF increased strength and durability while decreasing its flowability. The review also provides suggestions for further work.

17 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the static properties of hybridized (sisal/coir), sisal and coir fiber-reinforced concrete were investigated with different lengths of 10, 20 and 30 mm and various natural fiber concentrations.
Abstract: Recently, addition of various natural fibers to high strength concrete has aroused great interest in the field of building materials. This is because natural fibers are much cheaper and locally available, as compare to synthetic fibers. Keeping in view, this current research conducted mainly focuses on the static properties of hybridized (sisal/coir), sisal and coir fiber-reinforced concrete. Two types of natural fibers sisal and coir were used in the experiment with different lengths of 10, 20 and 30 mm and various natural fiber concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% by mass of cement, to investigate the static properties of sisal fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC), coir fiber reinforced concrete (CFRC) and hybrid fiber reinforced concrete (HFRC). The results indicate that HFRC has increased the compressive strength up to 35.98% with the length of 20 mm and with 0.5% concentration, while the CFRC and SFRC with the length of 10 mm and with 1% concentration have increased the compressive strength up to 33.94% and 24.86%, respectively. On another hand, the split tensile strength was increased by HFRC with the length of 20 mm and with 1% concentration, CFRC with the length of 10 mm and with 1.5% concentration, and SFRC with the length of 30 mm and with 1% concentration have increased up to 25.48%, 24.56% and 11.80%, respectively, while the HFRC with the length of 20 mm and with 0.5% concentration has increased the compressive strength of concrete but has decreased the split tensile strength up to 2.28% compared to PC. Overall, using the HFRC with the length of 20 mm and with 1% concentration provide the maximum output in terms of split tensile strength.

17 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated the mechanical properties and elevated temperature resistance of sisal fibers and steel fibers hybridization reinforced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) before and after exposure to elevated temperature.
Abstract: This paper investigated the mechanical properties and elevated temperature resistance of sisal fibers and steel fibers hybridization reinforced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). The compressive strength, flexural strength, and toughness of UHPC before and after exposure to elevated temperature were measured. Moreover, the spalling behavior, gas permeability, and sorptivity of hybrid fiber reinforced UHPC after the elevated temperature exposure was also studied. The spalling resistance mechanism was elucidated by thermal analysis and microstructure observation. The result shows that hybridization of sisal fibers and steel fibers exhibits an excellent synergy effect on improving the mechanical properties of UHPC before and after elevated temperature exposure. The addition of sisal fibers significantly increases the gas permeability of UHPC, hence the spalling of UHPC at elevated temperatures was prevented efficiently. A sisal fiber content of 0.6 vol% was most favorable in terms of improving the residual mechanical properties. Sisal fibers can increase the porosity of UHPC after elevated temperature exposure as indicated by sorptivity results, therefore excessive sisal fibers impaired the residual mechanical properties. This study provides new insights into the utilization of natural sisal fibers to produce sustainable and cost-effective UHPC with high spalling resistance characteristics at elevated temperatures.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , a hand-laid-up composite laminates with novolac resin and sisal/coir/E-glass fiber reinforcement (60:40) were fabricated using the hand lay-up method.
Abstract: Natural fiber- reinforced composites are currently being researched for their selection and use in the industries spanning aerospace, automotive, ground transportation, and several other high- performance-critical end products. Two of the key reasons in favor for the selection and use of natural fibers are, their biodegradability coupled with an overall ease of availability that makes the production of engineered composites not only cost effective but also economically viable. However, the selection and use of natural fibers/matrix is curtailed primarily because of three competing drawbacks, namely (i) high moisture absorption, (ii) inferior mechanical properties, and (iii) poor interfacial bonding strength between fiber and matrix, when compared one-on-one with the synthetic fibers/matrix. Due to these reasons, natural fibers are often used in combination with synthetic fibers for engineering composites, so as to achieve a material that offers the possibility of improved performance at the desired level. In this research study, composite laminates with novolac resin and sisal/coir/E-glass fiber reinforcement (60:40) were fabricated using the hand lay-up method. The fabricated composite laminates were characterized for macromechanical properties, namely, tensile strength and water absorption test was conducted to explore the moisture absorption characteristics of composite laminates. Test results revealed the composite laminates with natural fibers/resins to possess many attributes in favor of their selection and use in structural components.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the effects of NaOH treatment on the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of fibers collected from South-West Ethiopia were investigated using untreated, 5% and 10% alkali treated enset and sisal fibers.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the preference index of natural fibers such as sisal, coir, and rice straw fibers in SMA, using waste marble as filler, was investigated, and the results revealed favorable results for the usage of marble dust as filler in Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA).
Abstract: The present study investigates the preference index of natural fibers such as sisal, coir, and rice straw fibers in stone matrix asphalt mixtures (SMA), using waste marble as filler. Waste marble was used as the filler in asphalt mixtures and was crushed by abrasion machine and sieved according to SMA filler requirements. The SEM topography and EDS analysis of sisal, coir, and rice straw fibers were also carried out. The Marshall test was conducted, which is the most acceptable, cost-effective, and widely adopted method to estimate the optimum bitumen and to examine several Marshall Measures, such as flow value, voids filled with bitumen (VFB), stability, voids in mineral aggregate (VMA), and air voids (VA). Furthermore, tests were performed on the specimen with the optimum amount of bitumen, different percentages of fibers, and waste marble as filler to calculate drain down, moister sensitivity, and Marshall Stability. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques were implemented to obtain subjective and objective weights, which were further used to compute the values of the preference index of natural fiber contents. The outcomes revealed favorable results for the usage of marble dust as filler in Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA). In addition, the preference index upshots are inclined toward the usage of rice straw over coir followed by sisal fiber. It was observed that the value of the preference index in rice straw at 0.3 varied from 0.918, 0.925, and 0.931 in rice straw using equal, objective, and subjective weights, respectively. The maximum drain down value observed is 0.335 based on ASTM-D 6390 and IRC-SP-79 are against 0.3 percent natural fiber. Moreover, as per the prescribed limit of MoRTH, because of the thin film around aggregates, moisture susceptibility characteristics, i.e., better resistance to moisture, were enhanced by more than 80%.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , a simple and innovative technique to recycle surgical masks into composites of higher mechanical strength and antimicrobial properties is explored to reuse in packaging materials and cutleries.
Abstract: Abstract The crucial role of face masks is highlighted in our day‐to‐day life during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Polypropylene (PP)‐based disposable face masks are widely used to hold back viral transmission. The discarded masks can create a huge burden of contamination on the environment. The purpose of this work is to recycle and reuse discarded masks to reduce environmental pollution. A simple and innovative technique to recycle surgical masks into composites of higher mechanical strength and antimicrobial properties is explored to reuse in packaging materials and cutleries. The surgical masks composed of PP fibers are recycled to use as a matrix material to reinforce with sisal and hemp fibers. The hot compression molding technique is used to sandwich the PP masks with natural fibers. The tensile strength of the composites is remarkably increased by 197% and 305% for sisal fiber composites and hemp fiber composites, respectively. The tensile elongation also increased to 574% for sisal fiber composites. The resulting composites exhibit notable antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen responsible for common staphylococcal food poisoning. The composites are found to be suitable to use as food contact cutleries and packaging materials.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 2022-Heliyon
TL;DR: In this paper , the performance of hybrid Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composites (NFRCs) from E-glass, Nacha (Hibiscus macranthus Hochst. Ex-A. Rich.), and Sisal (Agave sisalana) fibers are investigated for wind turbine blades applications.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors evaluate and compare the environmental performance of two composites reinforced with sisal fibers, one produced with a Portland cement matrix and the other with a geopolymer matrix based on a residue, in this case, the sludge from a water treatment plant.
Abstract: In the development of new products, both the use of residues and the use of renewable materials are important strategies for a more circular production. However, it is not enough just to idealize a new product as environmentally sustainable, it is also necessary to prove the hypothesis through scientifically accepted methodologies, such as life cycle assessment (LCA). Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare, through LCA, the environmental performance of two composites reinforced with sisal fibers, one produced with a Portland cement matrix and the other with a geopolymer matrix based on a residue, in this case, the sludge from a water treatment plant. When comparing the environmental performance of composites using the impact assessment methods ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint/Endpoint and EN 15804, the results were convergent; the composite with the cement matrix has less environmental impact. The composite with the Portland cement matrix and 0.4% superplasticizer, for example, in the category Global warming, using the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint method, was 42.48% less impactful than the geopolymeric composite without the avoided product. In the category Climate change, using the EN 15804 method, the composite with the Portland cement matrix and 0.4% superplasticizer was 42.05% less impactful than the geopolymeric composite without the avoided product. The sensitivity analysis showed that the critical environmental points in the two composites are the production of potassium hydroxide and transport in the case of the geopolymer composite, and the production of cement and transport for the Portland cement composite. This research contributes scientifically by presenting potential alternatives for the construction industry that have already been evaluated from an environmental perspective. It is important to environmentally assess new products still in the development stage, since stating that a building material has superior environmental performance just because it is produced from residues or from a renewable raw material may not be a true reflection of the facts.

Journal ArticleDOI
25 Nov 2022-Polymers
TL;DR: In this paper , the properties of composite materials consisting of natural and synthetic fibers, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, fatigue, and hardness, are investigated in this study.
Abstract: Research on natural-fiber-reinforced polymer composite is continuously developing. Natural fibers from flora have received considerable attention from researchers because their use in biobased composites is safe and sustainable for the environment. Natural fibers that mixed with Carbon Fiber and or Glass Fiber are low-cost, lightweight, and biodegradable and have lower environmental influences than metal-based materials. This study highlights and comprehensively reviews the natural fibers utilized as reinforcements in polyester composites, including jute, bamboo, sisal, kenaf, flax, and banana. The properties of composite materials consisting of natural and synthetic fibers, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, fatigue, and hardness, are investigated in this study. This paper aims to summarize, classify, and collect studies related to the latest composite hybrid science consisting of natural and synthetic fibers and their applications. Furthermore, this paper includes but is not limited to preparation, mechanism, characterization, and evaluation of hybrid composite laminates in different methods and modes. In general, natural fiber composites produce a larger volume of composite, but their strength is weaker than GFRP/CFRP even with the same number of layers. The use of synthetic fibers combined with natural fibers can provide better strength of hybrid composite.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors assessed a technically feasible approach for the production of micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose (MNFC) from jute, sisal and hemp, involving refining and enzymatic hydrolysis as pretreatments.
Abstract: The current trends in micro-/nanofibers offer a new and unmissable chance for the recovery of cellulose from non-woody crops. This work assesses a technically feasible approach for the production of micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose (MNFC) from jute, sisal and hemp, involving refining and enzymatic hydrolysis as pretreatments. Regarding the latter, only slight enhancements of nanofibrillation, transparency and specific surface area were recorded when increasing the dose of endoglucanases from 80 to 240 mg/kg. This supports the idea that highly ordered cellulose structures near the fiber wall are resistant to hydrolysis and hinder the diffusion of glucanases. Mechanical MNFC displayed the highest aspect ratio, up to 228 for hemp. Increasing the number of homogenization cycles increased the apparent viscosity in most cases, up to 0.14 Pa·s at 100 s−1 (1 wt.% consistency). A shear-thinning behavior, more marked for MNFC from jute and sisal, was evidenced in all cases. We conclude that, since both the raw material and the pretreatment play a major role, the unique characteristics of non-woody MNFC, either mechanical or enzymatically pretreated (low dose), make it worth considering for large-scale processes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , several natural and artificial fibres, including glass, carbon, steel, jute, coir, and sisal fibres are used to experimentally investigate the mechanical and durability properties of fiber-reinforced concrete.
Abstract: Numerous studies have been conducted recently on fibre reinforced concrete (FRC), a material that is frequently utilized in the building sector. The utilization of FRC has grown in relevance recently due to its enhanced mechanical qualities over normal concrete. Due to increased environmental degradation in recent years, natural fibres were developed and research is underway with the goal of implementing them in the construction industry. In this work, several natural and artificial fibres, including glass, carbon, steel, jute, coir, and sisal fibres are used to experimentally investigate the mechanical and durability properties of fibre-reinforced concrete. The fibres were added to the M40 concrete mix with a volumetric ratio of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5%. The compressive strength of the conventional concrete and fibre reinforced concrete with the addition of 1.5% steel, 1.5% carbon, 1.0% glass, 2.0% coir, 1.5% jute and 1.5% sisal fibres were 4.2 N/mm2, 45.7 N/mm2, 41.5 N/mm2, 45.7 N/mm2, 46.6 N/mm2, 45.7 N/mm2 and 45.9 N/mm2, respectively. Comparing steel fibre reinforced concrete to regular concrete results in a 13.69% improvement in compressive strength. Similarly, the compressive strengths were increased by 3.24%, 13.69%, 15.92%, 13.68% and 14.18% for carbon, glass, coir, jute, and sisal fibre reinforced concrete respectively when equated with plain concrete. With the optimum fraction of fibre reinforced concrete, mechanical and durability qualities were experimentally investigated. A variety of durability conditions, including the Rapid Chloride Permeability Test, water absorption, porosity, sorptivity, acid attack, alkali attack, and sulphate attack, were used to study the behaviour of fiber reinforced concrete. When compared to conventional concrete, natural fibre reinforced concrete was found to have higher water absorption and sorptivity. The rate of acid and chloride attacks on concrete reinforced with natural fibres was significantly high. The artificial fibre reinforced concrete was found to be more efficient than the natural fibre reinforced concrete. The load bearing capacity, anchorage and the ductility of the concrete improved with the addition of fibres. According to the experimental findings, artificial fibre reinforced concrete can be employed to increase the structure’s strength and longevity as well as to postpone the propagation of cracks. A microstructural analysis of concrete was conducted to ascertain its morphological characteristics.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , a low-velocity impact (LVI) response of sisal-natural rubber (NR)-based flexible green composite in two different stacking sequences was assessed using hemispherical and conical-shaped impactors.
Abstract: ABSTRACT The present work concentrates on assessing the low-velocity impact (LVI) response of sisal-natural rubber (NR)-based flexible green composite in two different stacking sequences, namely, sisal/rubber/sisal (SRS) and sisal/rubber/sisal/rubber/sisal (SRSRS). The influence of the impactor shape on LVI response of the proposed composite was assessed using hemispherical and conical-shaped impactors. Results showed that the proposed composites exhibit better energy absorption and resistance to damage due to inclusion of compliant matrix. The study of damage mechanism of the proposed composites showed that the inclusion of NR as a matrix material in the proposed composites helps to avoid catastrophic failure since rubber undergoes failure by matrix tearing as opposed to matrix cracking as in the case of stiff composites. The proposed composites eliminate two of the major damage mechanisms, namely, matrix cracking and delamination, due to usage of compliant matrix material. The results obtained suggest that the proposed flexible composites can serve as excellent sacrificial structures. The outcome of the present study serves as a benchmark for interested designers/engineers to explore the usage of natural material candidates for developing sustainable impact-resistant composites.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors performed a systematic experimental analysis of the translaminar fracture behavior of high performance biocomposites constituted by green epoxy reinforced by sisal fibers, by varying the main influence parameters as fiber concentration and lay-up.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the chemical, physical, and structural properties of the sisal fiber are studied in detail, and it is shown that the reinforced composite of the Sisal fiber is well-grounded in civil and rural construction structural elements.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors performed a systematic experimental analysis of the translaminar fracture behavior of high performance biocomposites constituted by green epoxy reinforced by sisal fibers, by varying the main influence parameters as fiber concentration and lay-up.
Abstract: The present work performs a systematic experimental analysis of the translaminar fracture behavior of high performance biocomposites constituted by green epoxy reinforced by sisal fibers, by varying the main influence parameters as fiber concentration and lay-up. Despite the corrective function properly introduced to take into account the anisotropy as well as the use of the equivalent crack length, the study shows that the LEFM does not give accurate estimations of the fracture toughness, because the extension of the near tip damaged zone is higher than the singular dominated one. Accurate estimations can be obtained instead by the proposed modified area method that takes into account both the local damage and the fiber bridging that occurs during crack propagation, that lead to R -curves whose asymptotic values constitute the true fracture toughness of the biocomposites examined. The constancy of the damage mechanisms observed by varying the fiber concentration, allows the user to compute the fracture toughness of a generic laminate from the specific fracture energy of the unidirectional lamina. Finally, the relatively high fracture toughness of the examined laminates allows to state that they can advantageously replace not only other composites having lower toughness, but also metals as steel, aluminum and titanium.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the effect of alkali treatment on sisal fibers to improve the fiber properties and the effectiveness of their use as reinforcement in cement-based matrices was evaluated. And the results showed an increase in cellulose proportion with a reduction in hemicellulose and lignin content.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the potential of sisal and jute fibers was investigated in preventing brittle shear failures of short RC columns, and it was established that both the natural fiber composites could enhance the structural performance of RC columns to a level comparable to that established by CFRP sheets.
Abstract: Given a size of low-rise residential buildings located in seismic-prone areas, it is difficult to rationalize the application of Carbon Fiber Sheet Polymer (CFRP) sheets for the sake of seismic strengthening. Consequently, this study aimed at finding alternate solutions that could justify the cost without compromising on the performance of strengthened buildings. The potential of sisal and jute fibers was investigated in preventing brittle shear failures of short RC columns. A total of 6 RC columns furnishing typical old non-seismic details with a shear span-to-depth ratio of 2.35 were tested in this study. One column served as control whereas one column was strengthened with 2 layers of CFRP sheets. Rest of the 4 columns were strengthened with 2 and 4 layers of sisal and jute fiber composite sheets. Structural performance in terms of failure modes, ductility, energy dissipation, and peak lateral loads was summarized. It was established that both the natural fiber composites could enhance the structural performance of RC columns to a level comparable to that established by CFRP sheets. This too was achieved by reducing the strengthening cost per column relative to CFRP by 35 and 15% for sisal and jute, respectively.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the effect of the warp/weft orientation of jute/sisal and flax/kenaf fibers on the static and dynamic mechanical characteristics of intra-woven hybrid composites was examined.
Abstract: The current experimental investigation examines the effect of the warp/weft orientation of jute/sisal and flax/kenaf fibers on the static and dynamic mechanical characteristics of intra-woven hybrid composites. Jute (J), sisal (S), flax (F), and kenaf (K) hybrid woven mats were explicitly designed to keep fibers in the warp and weft directions. Intra-hybrid-composites with JJ, JS, SJ, SS, FF, FK, KF, and KK type hybrid woven mats with polypropylene matrix were processed using the compression molding/film stacking method. The tensile and flexural, and the dynamic mechanical behavior was investigated. Utilizing a scanning electron microscope, the fractured surface of tensile test specimens was examined. The results indicate that combining jute with sisal and flax with kenaf improved the mechanical properties of pure sisal and kenaf based composites. Hybridized composites exhibited the maximum increment in tensile strength (5.95% and 31.16%), tensile modulus (4.20% and 66.64%), flexural strength (12.59% and 5.69%), and flexural modulus (47.10% and 19.72%) for JS and FK composites, when compared with unhybridized SS and KK composites, respectively. The fiber hybridization and warp/weft sequence have a substantial effect on the dynamic mechanical performance of woven fiber laminated composites. It was identified that composites of JS and FK possess a higher storage modulus than pure SS and KK based composites, respectively. In addition, at a temperature of 50°C, the storage modulus was improved by 37.63% and 136.63%, for JS and FK hybrid composites, respectively in comparison to the unhybridized SS and KK composites, respectively.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the effect of adding sisal fibers on the structure and properties of environmentally friendly concretes with improved characteristics was studied, and the optimal content of fiber reinforcement with sisal fiber was determined as equal to 1.
Abstract: The fibers used in concrete are mainly materials that require additional production, which negatively affects their cost and environmental friendliness. Therefore, the issue of the effectiveness of the use of natural fibers, the extraction of which does not require mechanized production, becomes relevant. One of these materials is sisal fiber. The main purpose of this work was to study the effect of adding sisal fibers on the structure and properties of environmentally friendly concretes with improved characteristics. The tests were carried out in strict accordance with technological recommendations and normative and technical documents. Laboratory samples were made in the form of cubes and prisms of concrete with a compressive strength of 48 MPa and sisal fiber content of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, 1.25% and 1.5%. The tests were carried out at a concrete age of 15 days. The compressive strength and tensile strength of concrete samples were studied using the method of optical microscopy. The optimal content of fiber reinforcement with sisal fiber was determined as equal to 1%. The increases in the strength characteristics of the obtained fiber-reinforced concrete samples at the optimal dosage of sisal fiber in an amount of 1% by weight of cement were 22% for compressive strength, 27% for axial compressive strength, 33% for tensile strength in bending and 29% for axial strength stretching. The increases in deformation characteristics were 25% for strains in axial compression, 42% for strains in axial tension and 15% for the elastic modulus.