Abstract:
This study aims to evaluate the effect of adding coconut fiber on the mechanical properties of concrete, especially compressive strength and modulus of elasticity. Palm fiber is a natural material that aims to increase the strength of concrete by resisting cracks and deformation.
In this study, which uses an experimental method conducted at the Civil Engineering Lab of Galuh University, palm fiber was added to the concrete mixture with variations of 1 cm and compositions of 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%, and compressive strength and modulus of elasticity tests were carried out after the concrete reached 14 days old. The results showed that the addition of coconut fiber significantly affected the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of concrete.
The addition of fiber with an optimal concentration can increase the compressive strength of concrete by several percent, which was originally 14.92 Mpa added with fiber to 17.90 Mpa, while the modulus of elasticity also experienced a significant increase, which was originally 12.502 Mpa added with fiber to 25.764 Mpa. Thus, the use of coconut fiber as an additional material in the concrete mixture can be an effective alternative in improving the performance of concrete in building structures.
