The Use of Pineapple Leaf Fibers as Aggregate for Concrete Mix

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Attempts of using plant fibers to reinforce concrete is slowly getting popular among selected researchers. This is because of the idea that the use of fibers will increase the compressive strength of concrete. for this reason, the researchers carried out an investigation to find out whether the presence of fibers contributed to an increase in the compressive strength of concrete.

METHODS

Pineapple leaves were collected, washed, and dried. These were then made to undergo decortication. Meanwhile sand was sifted, and the cement and mixture were prepared in the following manner: To: 300g sand, 900g cement, 300ml water; T1: 300g sand, 900g cement, 300ml water, 6g pineapple leaf fiber; T2: 300g sand, 900g cement, 300ml water, 15g pineapple leaf fiber; and T3: 300g sand, 900g cement, 300ml water, 30g pineapple leaf fiber. The mixture was mixed thoroughly and was dried for 28 days.

RESULTS

Result of the study reveal that the mean compressive strength of sample concrete block without any fiber is 5,710 psi. on the other hand, cement blocks mixed with 6g, 15g, and 30g of pineapple leaf fibers are 3,063 psi, 641 psi, and 426 psi.

DISCUSSIONS

Results reveal that adding pineapple fibers to cement blocks cause a decrease in compressive strength. Apparently, the more fibers are mixed with sand, cement, and water, the lower their compressive strength becomes.