Develop an optimum mix design of fabric waste reinforced concrete for enhance thermal comfort

Abstract

Construction industry is widely focusing on sustainable construction materials to mitigate the environmental impact while improving building performance. Simultaneously, textile industry produces thousand tons of textile wastage per year, and it has become a significant environmental challenge. Incorporating fabric waste into concrete offers a promising solution by enhancing thermal performance while promoting circular economy principles. This study experimentally investigating on the effects of textile fiber on the fresh, mechanical, and thermal properties of the concrete to develop the optimum mix design for improved thermal comfort. Three different types of fabric waste were selected based on their performance reviewed by literature. Cotton, Polyester, and denim with varying fabric content of 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% partially replacement of fine aggregate and grade 25 concrete as control mixed were tested experimentally. Mechanical performance and thermal performance were evaluated through slump test, compressive strength, flexural strength and thermal conductivity. Fiber length was maintained 10-20mm. The control mix achieved compressive strengths of 23.60 MPa and 28.88 MPa at 7 and 14 days, and 33.50 MPa at 28 days. Strength generally reduced with higher fiber content, with cotton at 1.5% showing the lowest 28-day strength (28.40 MPa). Flexural strength improved with fiber addition, and the highest value was obtained for denim at 1.0% replacement (4.55 MPa) compared to the control (4.10 MPa). Thermal conductivity decreased from 1.65 W/m·K (control) to 1.34 W/m·K for cotton at 1.5%, representing an 18.8% reduction. All three fabric types exhibited distinct characteristics: cotton showed the best thermal performance, polyester maintained higher strength, and denim provided superior flexural behavior. An optimum replacement level of about 1.0% is recommended, as it achieves a balanced performance between mechanical properties and thermal comfort, making it suitable for practical applications.