International Conference on Civil and Infrastructure Engineering

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia February 13 - 14, 2014

Study of the Phenomenon of Adhesion between the Vegetable Date Palm Fibers and Cement Matrix
FIMAS (Laboratoire de Fiabilit des Matriaux et des Structures) University of Bechar
, HAMOUINE Abdelmadjid1 ,BRAHMI Hamid2 E-mail: 1ahamouine@yahoo.fr 2brahmi888@hotmail.fr

INTRODUCTION
Sustainable development is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. We have to deal simultaneously with a depletion of fossil resources and
environmental risks, including the greenhouse effect. The use of biomaterials is one of the proposed answers. The use of natural fibers for concrete
reinforcement develops this will reduce environmental impacts. Research in this field mainly on vegetable fibers (flax, hemp, jute, sisal,... etc.). Allow the
realization of bio-composite. The objective of this study is directed towards the introduction of date palm fibers (Phoenix L. Dactylifera) as fibrous
reinforcement in cement matrix. The choice of these fibers is not a coincidence , indeed the southern Algerian have abundant vegetable resources, but little
quantity is exploited

A- The fibers used in this study are vegetable

fibers of palms date palm, exactly in the socalled "leaflet section. These fibers are in the
region of Saoura (Bechar, Algeria), negligible
cost and renewable source. These fibers have a
bright green or green color.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION :

1-Tensile test of the fibers:
In FIG (III.1) there is a stress-strain curve
obtained from a tensile test of a fiber
subjected to these two ends to a tensile force.
We show that the maximum stress and
elongation of break of the latter are:
98.77Mpa and 1.85 mm respectively, and the
fiber breakage is just after maximum strength.

Tensile Constraint (MPa)

EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS :

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0

0,5

1,5

Elongation (mm)

III.1- tensile fiber

0,45
L=30 mm

Bond strength (MPa)

0,4

Pull-Out test of the fiber at 14 and 28 days :

Figures (III-2 and III-3) represent the Pull

Out curves (stress - slip) of the date palm
fiber in the concrete at the age of 14 and 28
days, with an anchorage length (L) varied
between 15 and 30 mm. The results give that
the maximum stress and slip are 0.39 MPa
and 0.88 mm, respectively at 14 days, they
are also only 0.22 MPa and 0.52 mm at 28
days

0,35
L=25 mm

0,3
0,25

L=20 mm

0,2
L=15 mm

0,15
0,1
0,05

0
0,08
0,16
0,24
0,32
0,4
0,48
0,56
0,64
0,72
0,8
0,88
0,97
1,05
1,13
1,21
1,29
1,37
1,45
1,53
1,61
1,69
1,77
1,85
1,93
2,01
2,09
2,17
2,25
2,33
2,41
2,49
2,57
2,65

slip (mm)

III.2- Pull out 14 days

0,3
30 mm

Bond strength (MPa)

0,25

25 mm

0,2

20 mm

0,15

15 mm

0,1
0,05
0
0,13
0,27
0,4
0,53
0,67
0,8
0,93
1,07
1,2
1,34
1,47
1,6
1,74
1,87
2
2,14
2,27
2,4
2,54
2,67
2,8
2,94
3,07
3,2
3,34
3,47

Effect of Anchoring length of the fiber:

Tensile

Pull-Out

It is clear in FIG (III.5), that the maximum

bond strength between the fiber and the
mortar varies with the age of the latter is
change , which it reaches 0.39 MPa at the age
of 14 days, by cons it decreases to 0.22 MPa
at the age of 28 days in the same condition
(L = 30mm)

0,4
0,35
0,3
0,25
0,2
0,15
0,1
0,05
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

Anchoring length (mm)

III.4 max strength, Anchoring length

0,4

Bond strength (MPa)

Influence of the age concrete

III.3- Pull out 28 days

Bond Strength (MPa)

From Figure (III.4) we shows the growth of

the maximum bond strength between the
different Anchoring length. This is quite valid
because, when the length of anchoring is
increased, the contact area between the fiber
and the matrix increases, which means an
increase of the maximum Pull-Out force.

Slip (mm)

0,34

0,35
0,3
0,26
0,25

0,22
0,2

0,2
14days
0,14

0,15

28days

0,1
0,05

0,03

0,05

0,04

0
15

20

25

30

Anchoring length (mm)

III.5.max strength, ge of concret

CONCLUSION
After wholes studies we've done we can draw the following conclusions:
- Due to the porous structure of these fibers, they have a relatively high water absorption which reduces the mixing water of hydration binder
-Increasing the age of concrete give the impression that the pull-out strength increased in parallel, but at 28 days we show a degradation of this strength.
For this we should study the chemical behavior of the fiber inside the cementitious matrix.
-From the mechanical point, we simply results that
The tensile strength of the fiber used in this work is ( 98.77 MPa) is significantly higher than the strength of concrete which is equal to 5 MPa. This
advantage , promotes the use of these palm fiber in the concrete composite.