Effects of adding bamboo fiber on various aspects of concrete performance: A state-of-the-art review

This review systematically examines the role of bamboo fiber (BF) in enhancing the performance of cement-based composites, with a particular focus on workability, mechanical properties, durability, and sustainability. BF, as a renewable and low-carbon material, has attracted increasing attention due to its potential to improve crack resistance, toughness, and post-cracking behavior through mechanisms such as crack bridging, stress transfer, and energy dissipation. However, its high water absorption, poor interfacial compatibility, and susceptibility to alkaline degradation pose significant challenges for practical applications. To address these limitations, various surface modification methods, including alkali treatment, silane coupling, and hybrid techniques, are reviewed in terms of their effects on interfacial transition zone (ITZ) characteristics, pore structure, and overall performance. The findings indicate that appropriate fiber content (typically 0.5%–1.5%) and optimized fiber length (10–20 mm) are critical for achieving a balance between mechanical enhancement and workability. While BF has limited influence on compressive strength, it significantly improves tensile strength, flexural performance, and especially toughness. In terms of durability, BF exhibits a bidirectional effect, contributing to crack control and internal curing at optimal dosages while potentially increasing porosity and degradation under unfavorable conditions. Overall, bamboo fiber concrete (BFC) demonstrates strong potential as a sustainable construction material. Future research should focus on interfacial stability, long-term durability under coupled environmental conditions, and the development of standardized design and evaluation methods to facilitate large-scale engineering applications.