Reinforcement of Concrete Hollow Blocks using the Adventitious Root of Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) Fiber

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Compressive strength is an important masonry parameter. It determines the amount of pressure that a concrete hollow block (CHB) can withstand before breaking. Some people use coarse aggregates to the CHB mixture in the form of files such as abaca and snake plant. The researchers hypothesized that Ficus elastica fiber can also be used as a concrete aggregates because of its high tensile strength. Hence, the conduct of this study.

METHODS

Materials for making concrete hollow blocks were obtained, measured, and mixed, based on the proportions prepared for each of the following treatments:

To: 7 kg of sand plus 2 kg of cement plus 450 mL of water

T1: kg of sand plus 2 kg of cement plus 5 g of Ficus elastica fibers plus 450 mL of water

T2: 7kg of sand plus 2 kg of cement plus 10 g of Ficus elastica fibers plus 450 mL of water

T3: 1 kg of sand plus 2kg of cement plus 15 g of Ficus elastica fibers plus 450mL of water

The fibers were moulded and dried for 28 days. These were tested for compressive strength.

RESULTS

Results reveal that the compressive strength of the sample hollow blocks per treatment are as follows: 297 psi for the controlled, 321 psi for treatment 1, 278 psi for treatment 2, and 267 psi for treatment 3, respectively.

DISCUSSIONS

Results show that adding a small amount of fiber can result in an increased compressibility but adding more fiber will result in a reduced compressibility of concrete hollow blocks.