Mechanical properties of sisal,fibre reinforced concrete
Abstract
Reinforcement of brittle matrices with fibres of different
kinds has been shown to improve the mechanical properties
of these materials.
In this study, mechanical properties of sisal fibre
reinforced concrete were examined using the Tensile test,
and the Four-point bending test.The Flexural strength,
Tensile strength, To~ghness and the Interfacial bond
strength were examined.Two forms of reinforcements were
examined under varying volume fractions. These were,
parallel fibre reinforcement with uniaxial fibres aligned
in the direction of the stress field, and chopped fibres
randomly reinforced in the matrix.
Sisal fibre reinforcement was shown to improve some of the
mechanical proper~ies examined. The Flexural strength and
the Tensile strength were seen to increase considerably
with fibre volume fractions for parallel fibre
reinforcement. No increase in Flexural and Tensile
strengths was observed for the chopped fibres
reinforcement. Toughness was observed to increase
considerably with fibre volume fractions in all cases
except for chopped fibres reinforced samples tested in
tension. During failure, fibre pull-out was observed and
the composites behaved in a ductile manner with the fibres
being able to sustain some load even when cracks had
developed fully across the specimen.
Citation
Master of Science in Agricultural EngineeringPublisher
University of Nairobi Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi