Comparative Analysis of Flexural Strength in Timber-Reinforced Concrete Beams Using African-Birch Timber and Steel Reinforcement
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of African-Birch (AB) Timber-Reinforced Concrete (ABTRC) as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional steel-reinforced concrete. The objectives were to determine some material properties (e.g. specific gravity, moisture content, fineness modulus, sieve analysis etc.), develop mix designs, and evaluate the flexural strength of ABTRC beams. Four reinforcement configurations {Steel (hanger bar) + Steel (main bar), Steel (hanger bar) + AB (main bar), AB (hanger bar) + Steel (main bar), and AB (hanger bar) + AB (main bar)} were tested, with beams cured for 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Some physical properties were determined for African-Birch timber (specific gravity, moisture content and tensile strength), fine and coarse aggregates. A mix design was developed using the BS 196-3-2016 (1:2.39:3.24 and water-cement ratio of 0.6). The flexural strength was evaluated using a 3-point bending test on a Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The results/findings demonstrated a significant 127% increase in flexural strength for Steel (hanger bar) + Steel (main bar), while AB (hanger bar) + Steel (Main bar) improved by 19.32%. AB (hanger bar) + AB (main bar) exhibited the lowest strength values. While Steel-based and hybrid configurations showed minimal density changes, AB (hanger bar) + AB (main bar) experienced a 22.32% reduction. Additionally, ultimate loadingss increased by 19.4% for AB (hanger bar) + Steel (main bar) and 27.1% for Steel (hanger bar) + Steel (main bar), highlighting the potential of African-Birch timber for sustainable construction applications.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Abdulrazaq Alhassan Aliyu, Wilson Uwemedimo Nyong , Ibrahim Rabiu
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