Sustainable Sisal Fibers Reinforced Cement Composites: Development, Characterization, and Mechanical Performance for Wall Applications

Abstract

Sisal fibers, extracted from Agave sisalana plants, are abundantly available in Tigray region of Ethiopia. This study investigates the potential of NaOH-treated sisal fibers as sustainable and costeffective reinforcement in cement composites. C-25 concrete and Grade 42.5R cement was used, and mix proportions determined using the ACI method. A water-to-cement ratio of 0.56 was adopted to achieve the target slump range of 75 -100 mm, ensuring adequate workability. The experimental investigation focused on sisal fiber-reinforced cement composites with varying fiber lengths (10 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm) and contents (1 %, 2 %, and 3 % by weight of cement). The fibers were treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to enhance their interfacial bonding with the cement matrix. Mechanical properties, including compressive, split tensile and flexural strength, were evaluated at 7 and 28 days of curing. To determine the optimal mix configuration, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was employed. SolidWorks software was also used to model the testing setups, providing detailed visualization of loading and specimen arrangements. The optimal mix was identified at 28 days as the composite containing 15 mm fiber length at 2 % content, which achieved the highest tensile strength (4.10 Mpa), compressive strength (31.6 Mpa), and flexural strength (5.4 Mpa). These findings confirm that NaOH-treated sisal fiber can enhances the mechanical performance of cement composites and offers a promising, eco-friendly alternative for both structural and non-structural wall applications.