Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable and energy-efficient building materials has encouraged the exploration of agricultural waste as alternative construction resources. This study investigated the effect of corn stalk fiber as a partial replacement for fine aggregates in concrete composite panels and evaluated its potential as a thermal insulating and cladding material. Specifically, the study assessed the workability, thermal conductivity, suitability for cladding support, and compressive strength of concrete composite panels containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% corn stalk fiber by weight of the fine aggregates. A quantitative-experimental research design was employed. Specimens were subjected to ASTM C1437 mortar testing, thermal conductivity testing using Lee’s Disk Method, cladding support assessment, and compressive strength testing following ASTM C39 standards. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed that increasing the percentage of corn stalk fiber reduced workability and compressive strength but significantly improved the thermal insulation properties of the composite panels. All fiber-reinforced specimens met the required workability standards and exhibited thermal conductivities below 0.10 W/mK, thereby classifying them as effective thermal insulators. Among the treatments, the specimen containing 15% corn stalk fiber demonstrated the lowest thermal conductivity (0.031 W/mK), indicating superior insulation performance. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences among the treatment groups in terms of workability, thermal conductivity, panel weight, and compressive strength (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the computed shear stress of all specimens remained substantially lower than the shear capacities of commonly used cladding adhesives, indicating their suitability for wall cladding applications. The study concludes that corn stalk fiber is a viable and sustainable partial replacement for fine aggregates in concrete composite panels. A 15% corn stalk fiber mixture is recommended as the optimal proportion due to its favorable balance of thermal insulation, structural adequacy, and environmental sustainability.
