| ABSTRACT |
The excessive extraction of natural sand for concrete production has raised serious environmental concerns, necessitating the exploration of sustainable alternative materials. Bamboo, a fast-growing and renewable natural resource, has gained attention for its potential use in construction applications. This research investigates the effect of using bamboo as a partial replacement for fine aggregate (sand) in concrete on its mechanical performance. Concrete specimens were prepared with bamboo replacement levels of 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 5% by weight of fine aggregate. Compressive strength tests were conducted at curing ages of 7, 14, and 28 days in accordance with relevant standards. The experimental results indicate that the compressive strength of concrete decreases progressively with an increase in bamboo content for all curing periods. The control mix achieved the highest compressive strength, while mixes with higher bamboo replacement exhibited significant strength reduction due to increased porosity, water absorption, and weaker interfacial bonding between bamboo particles and the cement matrix. The findings suggest that bamboo can be incorporated as a partial fine aggregate replacement at low replacement levels (up to 1 - 2%) without severely compromising the compressive strength. However, higher replacement percentages are not suitable for structural concrete applications. This research contributes to the development of sustainable concrete by evaluating the feasibility and limitations of bamboo as an alternative fine aggregate material.
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