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Volume 13 | Issue 9 | Year 2026 | Article Id. IJCE-V13I9P111 | DOI : https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V13I9P111

Evaluation of Prickly Pear Mucilage (Opuntia Ficus-Indica) as a Plasticising Additive in the Behaviour of Structural Concrete in the City of Huancayo

Victor Daniel Eufracio Avendaño, Milagros Ariana Mezarina Gutarra, Marko Antonio Lengua Fernandez

Received Revised Accepted Published
10 Apr 2026 24 Aug 2026 29 Aug 2026 29 Sep 2026

Citation :

Victor Daniel Eufracio Avendaño, Milagros Ariana Mezarina Gutarra, Marko Antonio Lengua Fernandez, "Evaluation of Prickly Pear Mucilage (Opuntia Ficus-Indica) as a Plasticising Additive in the Behaviour of Structural Concrete in the City of Huancayo," International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 192-207, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V13I9P111

Abstract

Since time immemorial, different cultures have utilized the extracts of plants to improve the rheological behavior of primitive mortars and concretes, with prickly pear mucilage serving as one of the best examples of traditional construction. In this research, the main aim is to analyze how Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage, a plentiful natural material in the region of Huancayo in Peru, influences the properties of structural concrete as a plasticizing and densifying additive. To achieve this, experiments on how the additive works in mixtures having a specified resistance to compression of f’c = 280 kg/cm² using local aggregates were carried out. The workability of the concrete was assessed by a slump test, while the compressive strength was assessed at 7, 14 and 28 days. The penetration test method was used to find the setting time, and the method of measuring the porous phase was done through gravimetric methods. Results were analyzed through ANOVA in SPSS; the model was found to be among the best (R_adjusted^2 = 0.993, p < 0.001). The results revealed that the incorporation of the organic additive modifies consistency non-linearly, identifying an overall optimal dosage of 2% by weight of cement. This optimal level maximized the slump up to 3.84 inches in the fresh state and increased the compressive strength at 28 days to 337.90 kg/cm² (8.9% higher than the control mixture), while reducing the permeable porosity to a relative minimum of 7.81% without inducing disproportionate delays in the final set. In conclusion, prickly pear mucilage constitutes an eco-friendly and technically viable alternative to optimize the workability and structural safety of sustainable concretes in high-altitude zones.

Keywords

Opuntia ficus-indica, Bioadditive, Natural plasticizer, Structural concrete, Compressive strength.

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