MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COCONUT FIBER REINFORCED LIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETE WITH COCONUT SHELL AGGREGATE

Abstract

The use of concrete is increasing day by day due to which the sources of the aggregates are reducing.
Coconut shell and coconut fibers are the natural materials which is abundantly available in tropical regions. Wastes
generated by industrial and agricultural processes have created disposal and management problems which pose serious
challenges to efforts towards environmental conservation. A considerable amount of coconut shells and fibers remain in
the environment as waste, so utilization of these materials for construction will be an important step to improve
sustainability and eco-friendly construction. In addition to that it will help to produce light weight and economically
profitable materials in construction field. In this research the entire program is carried out to find mechanical properties
i.e compressive, split tensile, flexure, and pull out strength of concrete samples having partial replacement of coarse
aggregate by coconut shell with partial addition of coconut fiber. Concrete mix ratio was 1:2:4 with water cement ratio
0.55. Concrete cylindrical and beam samples having partial replacement of coarse aggregate by 10% of coconut shell
and addition of 1%, 2%, and 3% of coconut fiber by weight of cement were casted and then cured for 28 days. After
completion of 28 days of curing period the concrete specimens were tested and then compared to control concrete
specimens. Results concluded that incorporation of coconut shell as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate improves
workability of concrete while coconut fibers reduce the workability. It is also concluded that on 10% replacement of
coarse aggregate by coconut shell gives approximately same compressive and pull out strength as for control concrete.
While Split tensile and flexure strength increase with 10% replacement of coarse aggregate by coconut shell and
addition of 2% coconut fiber. Hence it is recommended that coconut shell is replaceable up to 10% in concrete mix also
coconut fiber can be added up to 2% in concrete with 10% coconut shell for improvement of split tensile and flexure
strength.