Sustainable Development of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Using Palm Oil Ash as Supplementary Cementious Material

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable construction materials has encouraged the exploration of industrial and agricultural by-products as supplementary cementitious materials in concrete. This study investigates the sustainable development of glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) incorporating palm oil fuel ash (POFA) as a partial cement replacement. Glass fibers were added at a constant dosage of 1% by volume to enhance tensile strength and crack resistance, while POFA was utilized at replacement levels of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. The experimental program evaluated the fresh and hardened properties of the mixes, including workability, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength at different curing periods. Results indicate that the inclusion of POFA enhances the sustainability of concrete production by reducing cement consumption and utilizing agricultural waste. Optimum performance was observed at moderate replacement levels, where the combined effect of POFA and glass fibers improved strength, durability, and environmental benefits.

Introduction

Concrete is the most widely used construction material due to its versatility and durability, but its production, especially cement, contributes significantly to carbon emissions. To promote sustainable construction, researchers are exploring supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) from industrial and agricultural waste. Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), a silica-rich byproduct of palm oil residues, is one such SCM that can partially replace cement, reducing environmental impact while managing waste.

In addition to sustainability, improving mechanical performance is crucial. Glass fibers enhance concrete’s tensile, flexural, and impact strength while reducing crack propagation, making it suitable for modern construction applications. This study investigates Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) with 0.75–1% glass fibers and varying POFA replacement levels (5–25%) to evaluate fresh and hardened properties, including workability, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength.

Materials used include Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC 53 grade), natural river sand as fine aggregate, crushed stone as coarse aggregate, glass fibers (6–12 mm), POFA, clean water, and a superplasticizer (Conplast SP430) to improve workability. The M30 grade concrete mix is designed per IS 10262-2019 standards.

Experimental tests conducted include:

• Slump Test – to assess workability.

• Compressive Strength Test – using 150×150×150 mm cubes.

• Split Tensile Strength Test – using 300×150 mm cylinders.

• Flexural Strength Test – using 700×150×150 mm beams under two-point loading.

The study aims to identify the optimum POFA replacement that balances mechanical performance, durability, and environmental benefits, promoting eco-friendly and high-performance concrete technology.

Conclusion

This study examined how concrete behaves when Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) is used as a partial cement replacement along with a constant 1% Alkali-Resistant (AR) glass fiber. The results provide a clear understanding of how this combination influences strength development and overall performance. 1) The reduction in slump with increasing POFA indicates a steady decline in workability, which is expected given the finer particle size of POFA and the presence of fibers. Even with this reduction, the mixes retained workable consistency suitable for normal construction practices. 2) Across all mechanical tests, the mixes containing POFA and glass fiber consistently outperformed the control concrete. The compressive strength increased up to a POFA replacement of 15 %, where the mix achieved its highest strength at 42.96 MPa. This improvement can be linked to the pozzolanic reaction of POFA, which contributes to better matrix densification, combined with the crack-arresting ability of the glass fibers. 3) A similar pattern appeared in the split tensile and flexural strengths. The 15 % POFA mix again recorded the highest values, showing its effectiveness in enhancing tensile resistance and improving the concrete’s behavior under bending. The presence of AR glass fiber played a major role in limiting crack initiation and spreading, which resulted in greater ductility and improved post-cracking response. 4) Beyond 15 % POFA, all mechanical strengths began to decline, suggesting that excessive ash content disrupts the balance of cementitious compounds and leads to weaker bonding. This confirms that POFA must be used within an optimal range to achieve tangible benefits in performance. 5) Overall, the results demonstrate that combining 15 % POFA with 1 percent AR glass fiber provides a well-optimized, high-performing, and more sustainable concrete mix. This approach not only improves key strength parameters but also utilizes an agricultural waste material, thereby contributing to resource efficiency and reduced cement consumption. The enhanced tensile and flexural behavior further suggests that this modified concrete is suitable for applications where crack resistance, ductility, and long-term durability are critical.

References

[1] Lingala Ajay, M. Anil Kumar “Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Concrete strengthened with Alkali Resistant Glass Fibers (2020)”. [2] Adebola A. Adekunle , Iheoma M. Adekunle,Omobolaji T. Opafola , Ibilola Ogundare , Ayodeji . “Evaluation of strength characteristics of fibre reinforced concrete: A case study of glass and sisal fibres by (2021)” [3] Jawad Ahmad , Roberto Alonso González- Lezcano , Ali Majdi , Nabil Ben Kahla , Ahmed Farouk Deifalla and Mohammed A. El-Shorbagy. “Article Glass Fibers Reinforced Concrete: Overview on Mechanical, Durability and Microstructure Analysis by (2020)” [4] Hassan Tariq 1 , Rao Muhammad Arsalan Siddique 1 , Syyed Adnan Raheel Shah, Marc Azab, Attiq-Ur-Rehman, Rizwan Qadeer, Muhammad Kaleem Ullah and Fahad Iqbal. “Mechanical Performance of Polymeric ARGF-Based Fly Ash-Concrete Composites: A Study for Eco-Friendly Circular Economy Application by (2022).” [5] J.D.Chaitanya kumar, G.V.S. Abhilash, P.Khasim Khan, G.Manikanta sai, V.Taraka ram., A study on “ Experimental Studies on Glass Fiber Concrete.” [6] Oyejobi, D. O., Abdulkadir, T. S. and Ahmed, A. T “A Study of Partial Replacement of Cement with Palm Oil Fuel Ash in Concrete Production.” [7] Aiswarya V S, Beyoola Wilson, Harsha V N, studied on “Palm Oil Fuel Ash as Partial Replacement of Cement in Concrete”, 2017. [8] Jonida Pone, Ahmed Ash, John Kamau and Fraser Hyndman “Palm Oil Fuel Ash as A Cement Replacement in Concrete” [9] Hussein M Hamada, Gul Ahmed Jokhio, Fadzil Mat Yahaya and Ali M Humada, studied on “Properties of fresh and hardened sustainable concrete due to the use of palm oil fuel ash as cement replacement” (2018) [10] M.N. M. Sidek, N.H. Hashim, S.R. Rosseli, M. R. M. Nor, S. Ismail, H. M. Saman, M. F. Arshad, A. Alisibramulisi and F. Zainudin, Utilization of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) as Cement Replacement by Using Powder and Liquidation Technique, AIP Conference Proceedings 2020. [11] Yazan I. Abu Aisheh “Palm oil fuel ash as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material for concrete: A state-of-the-art review”. [12] S.N. Chinnu, S.N. Minnu, A. Bahurudeen, R. Senthilkumar “Influence of palm oil fuel ash in concrete and a systematic comparison with widely accepted fly ash and slag: A step towards sustainable reuse of agro-waste ashes.” [13] IS 10262 (2019): Guidelines for concrete mix design proportioning. [14] IS 456 (2000): Plain and Reinforced Concrete.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dodipatla Saibabu, Dr. Boddepalli Krishna Rao. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.