Textile waste is predominantly landfilled or incinerated, while the construction sector requires materials of lower embodied impact. This study reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of the mechanical performance of textile waste fiber-reinforced concrete (TWFRC), based on two decades of research retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science following the PRISMA 2020 protocol. Effect sizes were expressed as log response ratios and pooled using a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model; heterogeneity was quantified using Cochran’s Q, I2, and τ2, with subgroup analysis by fiber category and sensitivity analysis via variance imputation. The pooled estimates indicate statistically significant improvements of 19.0% (95% CI: 9.8–28.8%) in compressive strength, 33.2% (18.0–50.2%) in split tensile strength and 34.8% (11.7–62.6%) in flexural strength relative to unreinforced controls, consistent with a crack-bridging reinforcement mechanism. Optimum fiber volume fractions cluster between 0.5% and 1.5%, and effective fiber lengths between 20 and 50 mm. Glass and recycled steel fibers produce the largest strength gains, synthetic fibers enhance ductility and crack control, natural fibers require surface treatment, and hybrid systems exhibit clear synergy. Strength retention exceeds 85% after 150–300 freeze–thaw cycles, with global warming potential reduced by approximately 10%. Standardized test protocols and extended durability programmes remain prerequisites for adoption.
The environmental effects of cement manufacturing and river sand removal have increased interest in environmentally friendly construction materials that reduce resource use and greenhouse gas emissions. This study examined concrete using banana leaf ash (BLA) as a partial replacement for Portland cement and RHA to replace fine aggregate in concrete proportioned for an M30 target strength. Five mixes containing 0–20% each of BLA and RHA were evaluated for fresh properties, mechanical characteristics, durability, economic feasibility, and sustainability characteristics. The best-performing mix (M2) contained 10% BLA and 10% RHA and achieved the greatest 28 day compressive strength of 39.2 MPa, exceeding the control at 34.8 MPa. One-way ANOVA confirmed statistically significant differences among compressive strength values; Tukey HSD post-hoc analysis identified statistically significant differences in seven of the ten pairwise comparisons. M2 also showed higher split tensile and flexural strength and lower water absorption and sorptivity than the control. Cost comparison indicated minimal material cost savings due to substituting RHA for river sand. Sustainability analysis showed reduced cement, river sand, and embodied CO2 from cement manufacturing. These data indicate retained engineering performance overall.
Increasing awareness of the environmental and health impacts of conventional building materials has accelerated interest in bio-based composites that minimise embodied carbon and toxic emissions. Among these, hemp stands out for its fast growth, low agrochemical demand, and potential to contribute to biogenic carbon storage and lower-carbon material development. This study investigates the microstructural, chemical, and thermal properties of hemp fibres to examine their potential relevance to sustainable and health-centred building applications. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), we evaluated hemp fibre surface morphology, functional group characteristics, and thermal behaviour. Results are interpreted in relation to potential building applications, particularly moisture-related behaviour, low-toxicity material selection, and thermal reliability. The review and characterisation suggest that hemp fibres have potential ecological and technical advantages for future non-structural building materials and composite development, particularly where renewable sourcing, biodegradability, and thermal stability are prioritised. Their porous morphology, cellulose-rich composition, and thermal response suggest potential relevance to moisture-related behaviour, low-toxicity material selection, and future low-carbon building product development. This research suggests that the fibre-level findings may inform the development of low-carbon and health-conscious building composites, although further composite- and product-level validation is required.
This study investigated the effects of fiber type, blending ratio, and yarn linear density on the properties of bio-based polyamide 56 (PA56) blended yarns containing fine cotton, recycled cotton, and Tencel. A total of 36 yarn configurations were prepared using rotor spinning at four blending ratios (20/80, 40/60, 60/40, and 80/20) and three linear densities (58.3, 27.8, and 18.2 tex). Breaking strength, breaking elongation, evenness, and hairiness were measured, and overall performance was evaluated using the entropy weight-TOPSIS method. Breaking elongation received the highest indicator weight (0.4833), followed by breaking strength (0.2338). The results revealed nonlinear relationships between blending ratio and yarn performance, with PA56 content substantially influencing overall quality. Reducing the PA56 proportion from 60% to 40% decreased the relative closeness coefficient by 15%–30%. Among the 36 configurations, PA56/Tencel yarn at an 80/20 blending ratio and 27.8 tex achieved the best comprehensive performance, with a relative closeness coefficient of 0.8295. These findings provide a quantitative basis for optimizing the composition and linear density of sustainable PA56 blended yarns.
