| dc.description.abstract | Concrete possesses high compressive strength but is weak in tension and prone to flexural cracking. To enhance its structural performance, this study investigates the effectiveness of strengthening concrete beams using layers of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) based on natural materials and industrial waste. The ECC in this research was developed from a mixture of cement, palm shell ash, fly ash, bamboo fiber, and bamboo textile, offering an eco-friendly yet structurally reinforcing solution.The experiment was conducted on 21 concrete beam specimens measuring 60 × 15 × 15 cm, with and without ECC strengthening layers. The ECC layers, applied at the center of the beams with a length of 25 cm and width of 15 cm, were varied in thickness (2 cm and 4 cm). The variations included mortar-ECC, bamboo fiber-ECC, and bamboo textile-ECC. Flexural strength testing was performed using the four-point bending method after 28 days of curing.The results showed that unreinforced concrete beams had a flexural strength of 3.1 MPa and a deflection moment of 1.91 MPa. A significant increase was observed in beams with a 4 cm mortar-ECC layer, which achieved a flexural strength of 3.9 MPa and a deflection of 2.49 MPa. Beams reinforced with 4 cm bamboo textile-ECC layers reached a flexural strength of 3.8 MPa and a deflection of 3.79 MPa, demonstrating the effectiveness of bio-composite ECC materials. Crack patterns in reinforced beams were also more controlled, with fine and evenly distributed cracks. In conclusion, ECC layers made from natural materials significantly enhance the flexural capacity of concrete beams and present a promising, sustainable solution for structural reinforcement. | en_US |
