Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 6(13), pp.

2660-2667, 4 July, 2011

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE
DOI: 10.5897/SRE10.1139
ISSN 1992-2248 ©2011 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The use of miscanthus (Giganteus) as a plant fiber in

concrete production
Hicran Acikel
Selcuk University, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Engineering, (TR-42003) Konya, Turkey.
E-mail: hicranacikel@gmail.com
Accepted 23 May, 2011

In this study, it was intended to study the useability of miscanthus, an energy plant in the production of
concrete as a plant fiber in the city of Konya which is an agricultural city. It was thought that the
concrete that is used in the production of structural elements can be strengthened and produced lighter
by the use of miscanthus. The aggregates that are used in the experiments are supplied from Gocu
village of Konya. Concrete specimen are produced in three types, namely cubic, cylindirical and beam.
A total of 240 experiment specimens are produced from 21 different mixtures, out of these specimens,
105 are cubical with dimensions of 15 × 15 × 15 cm, 63 are cylindrical with dimensions of 15 × 30 cm,
and 72 are beam. The granulometry of the aggregate was kept constant, and the concrete was produced
with a water-cement ratio of 0.5, having 400, 350 and 300 kg/m3 cement dosages, and with various fiber
ratios and styles (grinded, cut and as reinforcement). The produced specimens were kept in water for 28
days. For each different mixture, two cubic specimens are tested for compression on the 7th day, and on
th
the 28 day, compression, splitting and bending tests are performed on three cubical, cylindrical and
beam specimens, respectively. Moreover, the unit weight and consistency of fresh concrete, unit weight
of hardened concrete and water absorption ratio are determined for every mixture. According to the
results obtained from the experiments carried out, using grinded miscanthus as a concrete admixture
has increased the strength of concrete in compression, tension and bending by 4 to 28, 9 to 25 and 4 to
9%, respectively. When miscanthus was embedded into the beams as reinforcement, around 2 to 6%
increase was observed in the bending strength of the beams.

Key words: Using of fiber in concrete, vegetable (plant) fiber, miscanthusxgiganteus.

INTRODUCTION

Presently, the production of structural elements using
fiber concrete is becoming rather popular. In particular,
the reinforcement of the materials which have less tensile
strength than their compressive strength, with fibers goes
back to hundreds of years ago. The first example to this
is the fabrication of bricks composed of soil and hays by
burning them under the sun light. Afterward, pipes with
asbestos became the most common practice.
Following the use of asbestos fibers, in time, steel,
fiber-glass, carbon, cellulose, nylon and polypropylene
fibers are utilized. Other than these fibers, plant fibers are
also being used. However, the use of miscanthus (an
energy plant), as a fiber has not been discussed in the
literature. Plant fibers used in some countries includes
Manila hemp, sisal hemp, coir, cotton and Indian hemp.
In Turkey, plant fibers have not yet been used. Plant
fibers, are abundant in tropical countries, especially in
Brazil (Savastano et al., 1998; Savastano and Agopyan,
1997).
The main purpose of using fibers is reducing the
fragility of material, thus, increasing its ductility. This
property is very important since it increases the energy
absorption capacity, hence, the earthquake resistance
(Agopyan and John, 1992).
Pacheco-Torgal and Jalali (2010) have been discussed
in their paper, the use of vegetable fibres as
reinforcement in cement based materials. Filho et al.
(2009) presented an experimental research on the
durability performance of compression molded sisal
fiber–cement mortar laminates (SFRML). In order to
produce a matrix totally free of calcium hydroxide (CH),
the Portland cement (PC) was replaced by calcined clay

Table 1. Results of unit weight, specific gravity and water absorption.
Compact unit
Aggregate
weight kg/m 3
Fine aggregate (0 to 4 mm) 1802
Coarse aggregate (4 to 16 mm) 1694
(metakaolin and calcined waste crushed clay
brick) and a material with enhanced performance
was obtained. As a result, it was indicated that
the newly developed CH-free matrix avoided the
fiber embrittlement process keeping the
toughness in time even after 100 cycles of wetting
and drying.
Filho et al. (2009) in another study, also
examined developing the sisal fiber–cement
composites reinforced with long unidirectional
aligned fibers and characterizing their physical–
mechanical behavior.
Agopyan et al. (2005), in their research, have
been presented the approach which is directed
towards the development of alternative binders,
with controlled free lime, using ground granulated
blast furnace slag in order to improve the
durability of vegetable fibres.
Ramakrishna and Sundararajan (2005) have
studied on the durability of natural fibres and the
effect of corroded fibres on the strength of mortar.
Silva et al., 2008), have studied the monotonic
tensile behavior of a high performance natural
fiber in their paper.
Andersons et al. (2005), have studied the flax
fibre strength distribution and efficient
experimental methods for its determination. In
their study, elementary flax fibres of different
gauge lengths were tested by single fibre tension
in order to obtain the stress–strain response and
strength and failure strain distributions. The
applicability of single fibre fragmentation test for
flax fibre failure strain and strength
characterization was considered. It was shown
Loose unit weight Dried specific Dried specific gravity of
kg/m3 gravity kg/m3 saturated dry surface kg/m3
1734 2.25 2.30
1617 2.56 2.56
that fibre fragmentation test could be used to
determine the fibre length effect on mean fibre
strength and limit strain.
Alawar et al. (2009) have investigated the effect
of different treatment process on the data palm
fiber (DPF) in their study. In this research, it was
aimed to investigate the usability of miscanthus in
concrete production as a plant fiber. Miscanthus is
an energy plant and grown in Konya, a city of
agriculture.
The reason for using miscanthus as a plant fiber
is that it can be grown in the weather conditions of
the city of Konya, Turkey. Miscanthus used in the
experiments was fairly easily obtained from the
fields in the campus area which are controlled by
the Agricultural Engineering Faculty at Selcuk
University, Konya. Since miscanthus is easily
cultivated, its price is quite low. It was targeted to
obtain low cost and high quality in this
experimental study.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
The materials used in the experiments
The aggregate used in the experiments were supplied from
the town of Göçü located around Konya. The experiments
of the aggregate were carried out according to the code of
Turkish Standards (TS). These included the specific gravity
and water absorption experiments according to TS 3526,
compact unit weight and loose unit weight experiments
according to TS 3529 and granulometry experiments
according to TS 130 (Table 1 and Figure 1).
The aggregate had a fineness modulus of k = 4.16 and a
specific gravity of 2560 kg/m3. The aggregate had a
Acikel 2661
Normal dried specific Water absorption
gravity kg/m3 %
2.39 2.8
2.57 0.65
compact unit weight of 1710 kg/m3 and a loose unit weight
of 1654 kg/m3. The water absorption rates of the sand and
gravel were 2.8 and 0.65%, respectively.
In the concrete mixtures, Portland Cement, PÇ 32.5 with
a specific gravity of 3150 kg/m3 and produced by Konya
Cement Industry Co., was used. The water in the mixtures
was supplied from Selcuk University’s campus water
network.
The miscanthus used as a plant fiber was supplied with
a diameter 4 to 8 mm and a length of 60 to 80 mm, and
was added into the mixtures by grinding and/or cutting at
suitable lengths (Figure 2). It had a density of 70 kg/m 3 and
a water absorption rate of 110%. The strain and stress at
failure of miscanthus were 4.3% and 95 to 118 MPa,
respectively (Acaroğlu, 2000).
Concrete experiments
Three types of concrete specimens were produced. A total
of 240 experimental specimens were produced from 21
different mixtures, 105 of these specimens were cubical
with dimensions of 15 × 15 × 15 cm, 63 were cylindrical
with dimensions of 15 × 30 cm, and 72 were beam with
dimension of 10 × 10 × 50 cm. The granulometry of the
aggregate was kept constant, and the concrete was
produced with a water-cement ratio of 0.5 having 400, 350
and 300 kg/m3 cement dosages, and with various fiber
ratios and styles (grinded, cut and as reinforcement).
The produced specimens were kept in water for 28 days.
For each type of mixtures, in compliance with TS 3114
(Turkish Standards), two cubic specimens at 7 th day, and
three cubic specimens at 28th day were subjected to
compression tests; in compliance with TS 3129, three
cylindrical specimens were subjected to splitting tests at
28th day; and in compliance with TS 3285, three beam
specimens were subjected to bending tests at 28 th day.
Additionally, the unit weight of fresh concrete according to
TS 2941, the consistency of fresh concrete according to TS
2871, and the specific weight and water absorption rate of
2662 Sci. Res. Essays

100 100
90 90
80
Under the sieve (%)
80
Under the sieve (%)

70 A32
70 A32
60
60 B32
50 B32
50 C32
40 C32
40 30 Mixture
30 Mixture
20
20 10
10 0
0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8 16 32
0.25 0.5 1 2
Diameter 4
of particle 8
(mm) 16 32
Diameter of particle (mm)
Figure 1. Granulometric curve of natural aggregate and TS 802 reference curves.

Figure 2. The plant of miscanthus

hardened concrete according to TS 6332 were determined for all the strengths of two experimental specimens.
the mixtures. The strengths of specimens with and without fibers
were compared by means of the compression strength
tests performed with cubic specimens. As a result of this
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS comparison, it was determined that the addition of 2%
grinded fiber into the mixture caused around 4 to 6%
The unit weight of fresh concrete, the results of the increase in the compressive strengths of cubic
specific weight, the water absorption rate, the 3
specimens with 300 and 350 kg/m cement dosages.
compressive strength, the splitting strength and the Similarly, in the case of adding 4% grinded fiber into the
bending strength tests of hardened concrete and the mixture, it was found out that the compressive strengths
properties of the mixtures were all presented in Table 2. increased around 8 to 10%. The compressive strengths
The values given in the table were the average of the of the mixtures increased up to 26% for specimens
values obtained from the tests of three specimens. The having 400 kg/m3 cement dosage and 2% grinded fiber,
compression strength value for 7 day was the average of when compared to the strengths of mixtures without
 Acikel 2663

Table 2. The properties of experimental mixtures and the results of the experiments.

Cement The specific weight The water Compression strength

The unit weight of hardened (fck) Splitting strength
dosage absorption rate of Bending
of fresh
Mixture kg/m3 Specimen concrete kg/m3
concrete hardened concrete (15×15×15 cm cubic) Mpa strength
Label label kg/m3 % Mpa for 28 day MPa
Fiber rate Ort. Ort.
and type  ort  ort Sa Ort. Sa fck Ort. fck y e
y e
1 2445 1.95 3 35 2.9 5.5
300 2 2445 1.90 4 36 2.3 2.7 5.5
1 2450 35 5.5
without fiber 3 2459 1.78 4 34 2.8 5.5
1.86 3.75
4 1.82 4

1 2207 1.88 3 37 3.0 5.7

300 2 2059 1.89 3 36 3.0 6.0
2 2094 37 5.8
(2%) grinded 3 2015 1.78 3 37 3.1 5.7
1.84 3.00 3.0
4 1.81 3

1 2459 1.91 2 30 2.9 5.3

300 2 2459 1.95 2 32 2.8 5.0
3 31 5.2
(2%) cut 3 2430 1.80 3 31 2.6 5.4
2449 1.86 2.50 2.8
4 1.79 3

300 1 2430 1.91 3 36 3.3 5.2

(2%) 2 2415 1.89 3 34 3.0 5.0
4 2435 34 5.1
grinded and 3 2459 1.96 4 33 3.0 3.1 5.0
cut 1.92 3.25
4 1.94 3

1 2415 1.86 3 37 3.4 6.2

2 2430 1.89 3 39 3.2 6.0
300
5 3 2445 2430 1.89 3 38 38 3.2 5.6 5.9
(4%) grinded 3.3
1.88 3 3.00
4 1.86

1 2430 1.96 4 31 2.9 5.1

300 2 2400 1.91 1.88 3 31 3.0 4.7
6 2430 3.50 31 3.0 4.7
(4%) cut 3 2459 1.82 4 30 3.0 4.3
4 1.83 3
2664 Sci. Res. Essays

Table 2. Contd

1 2459 1.95 3 33 3.0 5.5

300 1.90
2 2400 4 33 2.7 5.7
7 (4%) grinded 2444 33 5.6
2.8
and cut 3 2474 1.84 1.88 3 3.25 32 2.6 5.6
4 1.84 3

1 2430 1.88 3 37 3.1 6.0 5.9

350 2 2445 1.89 3 34 2.5 5.8
8 2450
without fiber 3 2474 1.91 3 36 36 3.1 2.9 6.0
1.89 3.00
4 1.90 3

1 2400 1.91 2 36 3.5 6.3

350 2 2415 1.95 2 38 3.2 5.6
9 2410 37 3.3 6.1
(2%) grinded 3 2415 1.87 3 37 3.2 6.4
1.90 2.50
4 1.85 3

1 2445 1.91 3 34 3.2 5.5

350 2 2430 1.89 3 34 3.1 5.5
10 2445 34 3.1 5.5
(2%) cut 3 2459 1.90 2 34 3.2 5.4
1.90 2.75
4 1.88 3

1 2430 1.86 3 30 2.8 5.3

350 2 2430 1.89 3 31 2.8 4.8
11 (2%) grinded 3 2430 2430 1.85 3 3.00 31 31 2.9 2.8 4.8 5.0
and cut 1.86
4 1.86 3

1 2459 1.96 4 38 3.6 5.9

350 2 2445 1.91 3 38 3.5 6.1
12 2445 3.25 38 3.6 6.2
(4%) grinded 3 2430 1.83 3 39 3.6 6.7
1.88
4 1.83 3

1 2415 1.94 3 34 3.5 5.2

350
13 2 2415 2415 1.87 3 3.00 34 34 3.4 3.4 5.3 5.2
(4%) cut
3 2415 1.84 1.88 3 33 3.4 5.2
 Acikel 2665

Table 2. Contd

4 1.85 3

1 2445 1.97 2 37 3.3 6.0

350
2 2459 1.96 2 39 3.3 5.7
14 (4%) grinded 2445 1.94 2.50 38 3.2 5.8
3 2430 1.88 3 39 3.1 5.7
and cut
4 1.93 3

1 2477 1.88 3 36 3.2 6.3

400 2 2459 1.92 3 36 3.0 6.0
15 2470 1.90 2.50 36 3.2 6.2
without fiber 3 2474 1.90 2 36 3.3 6.2
4 1.91 2

1 2430 1.86 3 45 3.6 6.7

400 2 2445 1.84 3 47 3.5 6.7
16 2440 1.84 2.50 46 3.5 6.8
(2%) grinded 3 2445 1.84 2 45 3.5 6.9
4 1.87 2

1 2430 1.86 4 35 2.6 5.5

400 2 2415 1.89 4 35 2.6 5.4
17 2430 1.90 3.50 35 2.7 5.5
(2%) cut 3 2445 1.94 3 36 2.9 5.5
4 1.93 3

1 2489 1.91 3 39 3.1 5.4

400
2 2474 1.94 3 40 3.0 5.4
18 (2%) grinded 2474 1.86 2.50 40 3.0 5.4
3 2459 1.80 2 40 2.8 5.3
and cut
4 1.77 2

1 2445 1.92 2 46 3.8 6.6

2 2430 1.94 3 47 3.9 6.7
400
19 3 2430 2435 1.85 1.90 3 2.75 46 3.9 6.9
(4%) grinded 46 3.9 6.7
3
4 1.89

1 2400 1.93 2 35 3.7 5.1

2 2400 1.89 3 34 3.4 5.3
400 2400 1.87 3.25
20 3 2400 1.87 3 34 34 3.4 3.5 5.4 5.3
(4%) cut
4 1.78 5
2666 Sci. Res. Essays

Table 2. Contd

1 2445 1.97 3 40 3.2 5.7

400 2 2430 1.94 3 45 3.1 5.8
2440 1.88 3.75
21 (4%) grinded 3 2445 1.79 5 40 42 2.9 3.1 5.9 5.8
and cut 4 1.82 4

300 fiber 1 2445 1.95 3 5.8

embedded 2 2445 1.90 4 5.6
1 as 2450 1.86 3.75 5.7
3 2459 1.78 4 5.6
reinforceme
nt 4 1.82 4

350 fiber 1 2430 1.88 3 6.0

embedded 2 2445 1.89 3 6.0
8 as 2450 1.89 3.00 6.0
3 2474 1.91 3 6.1
reinforceme
nt 4 1.90 3

400 fiber 1 2477 1.88 3 6.5

embedded 2 2459 1.92 3 6.8
15 as 2470 1.90 2.50 6.6
3 2474 1.90 2 6.6
reinforceme
nt 1.91 2

fibers. When the fiber concentration was
increased further to 4% for the specimens with
400 kg/m3 cement dosage, the rate of increase
was 28%. Increasing the fiber percentage of the
cubic specimens from 2 to 4% had affected the
increase in the compressive strength positively.
It was observed that, generally, the addition of
cut miscanthus into the cubic concrete specimens
decreases the compressive strength. This was
due to that the cut miscanthus plant in the mixture
absorbed up to 70% water, then, kept it in its body
and deformed. Also, due to the smooth fiber
surface, the insufficient bond between the
concrete and fiber caused the strength to
decrease. This effect was also confirmed by
increasing the amount of added cut plant fiber
from 2 to 4% decreased the compressive
strengths of cubic concrete specimens. However,
when a 4% mixture of grinded and cut plant fibers
were added into the cubic specimens with high
cement dosages, the compressive strength
increased up to 28%. On the other hand, the
increase was not considerable in the case of
adding 2% mixed plant fiber. Increases in the
cement dosage changed the effect of fiber.
In the cylinder splitting experiments performed
using cylinder specimens, the splitting strengths of
concrete specimens with and without fiber were
compared. For the cylindrical specimens mixed
with 2% grinded fiber, the splitting strength
increased around 9.5 to 16% compared to that of
the specimens without fibers. When 4% grinded
fiber was added into specimens with 400 kg/m 3
cement dosage, the increase was as much as
25%. There was no considerable increase in the
splitting strength of cylindrical specimens with cut
fibers. When 2% grinded and 2% cut fibers were
added together into the specimens, there was a
little increase in the splitting strength.
In the bending experiments performed with
beam specimens, it was determined that 2%
grinded plant fiber added into the mixture caused
4 to 9% increase in the flexural strength. When
the rate of grinded fiber added into the mixture
increased to 4%, the increase became 5 to 9%. It

was observed that addition of cut fibers into the beam
specimens decreased the flexural strength. The rate of
decrease was higher when the amount of added cut
fibers was increased. Addition of cut and grinded fibers
together had an unfavorable effect, as well. The plant
fibers embedded into the beam specimens as
reinforcement increased the flexural strength around 2 to
6%.
Since the miscanthus plant absorbed so much water,
the amount of water in the mix had to be increased.
However, increasing amount of water is not an
appropriate solution since it will reduce the strength of
concrete. In the mean time, being the surface of the plant
fiber smooth instead of rough, bonding between the fiber
embedded as a reinforcement into the beams and the
concrete was prevented and it slipped from the concrete.
For this reason, the increase in the flexural strength was
limited. Similarly, the cut fiber did not bond well with the
concrete and there were crystallizations at the contact
surface between the fiber and the mixture. Thus, there
was a decrease in the flexural strength.
As a result of the unit weight tests of the specimens, it
was determined that concrete specimens which had 300
and 350 kg/m3 cement dosages and grinded fiber, could
be produced lighter than those without fiber.
RESULTS
According to the results from the experiments carried out,
the miscanthus added into the concrete in a grinded
manner, increased the compressive and tensile strengths
of concrete 4 to 8% and 9 to 25%, respectively. The
miscanthus embedded into the beam specimens as
reinforcement increased the flexural strength 2 to 6%.
However, the fiber used in a cut manner had an
unfavorable effect.
Since the miscanthus can be cultivated easily in the
climatic conditions of the city of Konya, it has low cost.
Additionally, it had a favorable effect in the concrete
properties and increased the tensile and compressive
Acikel 2667
strengths of concrete. As a result of these, the target of
the low cost and high quality was realized.
For future studies, the additional usage purposes of
miscanthus and similar plants should be studied.
Moreover, it would be interesting to study the effect of
miscanthus on the ductility and energy absorption
capacity of structural members made of concrete into
which miscanthus is added in a grinded manner.
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Alawar A, Hamed AM, Al-Kaabi K (2009). Characterization of treated
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