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org © 2020 IJCRT | Volume 8, Issue 6 June 2020 | ISSN: 2320-2882

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE USE OF

COCONUT FIBRE AS ENHANCEMENT OF
CONCRETE
1
SARAVANAKUMAR R,2SHANMUGARAJ.M,
1
Lecturer,2Lecturer
1
PLASTIC TECHNOLOGY, 2CIVIL ENGINEERING
1
VSVN POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE,VIRUDHUNAGAR,INDIA

Abstract: Concrete is probably the most extensively used construction material in the world. The main ingredient in the conventional
concrete is Portland cement. The amount of cement production emits approximately equal amount of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. Cement production is consuming significant amount of natural resources. That has brought pressures to reduce cement
consumption by the use of supplementary materials. Availability of mineral admixtures marked opening of a new era for designing
concrete mix of higher and higher strength. coconut fibre is a admixture, whose potential is not fully utilized The study focuses on the
compressive strength performance of the coconut fiber reinforced concrete containing different percentage in a weight basis by 0.4%,
0.5%, 0.6%.

Index Terms – Concrete, Admixture, Cocuntfibre, compressive strength.

I. INTRODUCTION
With the quest for affordable housing system for both the rural and urban population in India, various proposals
focussing on cutting down conventional building material costs have been put forward. One of the suggestions in the forefront has been
the sourcing, development and use of alternative, non-conventional local construction materials including the possibility of using some
agricultural wastes as construction materials. Mostly these coconut fibres are dumped as agricultural waste, so that it is easily available in
large quantity and also cheap. The purpose of this is to conduct experimental studies for enhancement of properties of concrete by
reinforcing with coconut fibres determined by compressive strength.

II. MATERIALS AND PROPERTIES

2.1 Materials
2.1.1. Cement
OPC 53 grade which is available in the market is used. The coarse aggregates of 20mm and 12mm from the nearby quarry and the fine
aggregate of zone-II are used. Ceraplast - 300 super plasticizer is used.

Table 1 Properties of Cement

Sl.No Property Value

1 Specific gravity of cement 3.15
2 Fineness of cement 8.55 %
3 Initial setting time 180 mm
4 Final setting time 240 mm

2.1.2. Coarse Aggregate

Locally available stonework, sieved with a 20 mm sieve, was used as coarse aggregate. It was then washed to clear dirt and dust and kept
under dry surface conditions. Coarse aggregates are tested as per IS: 383-1970. Table no.2 illustrates the properties of the coarse
aggregate used.
Table 2 Properties of Coarse aggregate

Sl.No Property Value

1 Specific gravity 2.60
2 Water absorption 0.5%
3 Fineness modulus 7.3

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2.1.3. Fine Aggregate
Sand which is locally available and conforming to zone -2 of IS 383-1970 was used as fine aggregate. Fine aggregate taken was clean,
inert and free from organic matter, silt and clay. Properties are tabulated in the below Table no.3.

Table 3 Properties of fine aggregate

Sl.No Property Value

1 Specific gravity 2.60
2 Water absorption 1.0%
3 Fineness modulus 2.70
2.1.4. Chemical Admixture

Super Plasticizer Ceraplast -300 was used to obtain better workability for the mix.

2.1.5. Coconut fibre

For this study, locally available Coconut fibre is used

III.MIX DESIGN

As per IS 456-2000 the mix proportioning was done coconut fibres are added to the concrete in a weight basis by adding the coconut
fibre in to the concrete by 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%.
Table 4Mix design

Water Cement Fine aggregate Coarse aggregate

191.6 litre 383 kg 546 kg 1188 kg
0.5 1 1.425 3.10

3.1 Compressive Strength

Compressive strength is defined as resistance of concrete to axial loading. Cubes were placed in Universal Testing Machine (U.T.M),
and load was applied. The readings were recorded and compressive strength was calculated.

Calculations:

Compressive Strength = Maximum load/Cross Sectional Area = P/A

3.2 Testing Procedure

Compressive strength of concrete is checked in our laboratory using universal testing machine. First concrete cube of 150 * 150 mm was
made. Also concrete cube with various mixture of coconut fibre in the ratio of 0.4%, 0.5% and 0.6% were made and allowed for 28
days curing and tested in UTM. The readings were tabulated and compressive strength was calculated.

Fig 1 UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE

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www.ijcrt.org © 2020 IJCRT | Volume 8, Issue 6 June 2020 | ISSN: 2320-2882
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Results of Concrete Cube and Coconut Fibre Mix (0.4 % ,0.5% & 0.6% )

Concrete cubes

WEIGHT LOAD AREA Compressive

Kg X 1000kg mm2 strength
(MPa)
8.5 60 150X150 26.16
8.5 62 150X150 27.03
8.6 60 150X150 26.16
MEAN 26.45
VALUE

Cubes with 0.4 % Coconut fibre

WEIGHT LOAD AREA Compressive

Kg X 1000kg mm2 strength
(MPa)
8.5 60.5 150X150 26.89
8.5 60 150X150 26.16
8.6 61 150X150 27.11
MEAN 26.72
VALUE

Cubes with 0.5 % Coconut fibre

WEIGHT LOAD AREA Compressive

Kg X 1000kg mm2 strength
(MPa)
8.5 61 150X150 27.11
8.5 62 150X150 27.55
8.6 62.5 150X150 27.80
MEAN VALUE 27.48

Cubes with 0.6 % Coconut fibre

WEIGHT LOAD AREA Compressive

Kg X 1000kg mm2 strength
(MPa)
8.5 62 150X150 27.50
8.5 62.5 150X150 27.80
8.6 64 150X150 28.40
MEAN VALUE 27.90

After conducting the experimental test in Universal Testing Machine the Concrete material with Coconut fibre is tabulated and graph
was drawn and strength was compared.

Compressive
Material
Strength
Mpa
Cement
26.45
0.4 %
26.72
Coconut fibre
0.5%
27.48
Coconut fibre
0.6 %
27.9
Coconut fibre

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Compressive Strength of Material

28.5

28

27.5

27
Mpa
26.5

26

25.5
cement 0.4 C fibre 0.5 C fibre 0.6 C fibre

For Coconut fibre in various percentage reinforcement, increases strength of concrete increased with, increased in fibre dosage up to 0.6
% as compared to concrete, gives more compressive strength, whereas when comparing to 0.4% & 0.5% coconut fibre. 0.6 % of
Coconut fibre reinforced concrete produce massive compressive strength .
REFERENCES
[1] Kolli.Ramujee(2013) “Strength properties of polypropylene fibrereinforced concrete” IJIRSET, 02(08), 3409-3413.
[2] K. Dharunsankar(2016) An Experimental Studyon Conrete with Hybrid Fibres. ASCE, 02(10),103-110.
[3] IS 1489-1991(Part 1). “Specification for Portland-pozzolana Cement-FlyAsh Based”. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
[4] IS 516-1959. “ Method of Test for Strength of Concrete”, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
[5] Patil Shweta & Kavilkar Rupali (2014)“Study of Flexural Strength in Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete”. IJRDET, 02(05).

AUTHOR
Mr. R.Saravanakumar woking as a Lecturer in Plastic Technology Department in VSVN Polytechnic College,
Virudhunagar.with more than 20 years of experience. Chairman and Member in Board of Studies of Plastic
Technology branch. Question paper setter and Valuer for many Autonomous Polytechnic Colleges in Tamilnadu. Life
Member in Indian Society for Technical Engineering(LM 35049 / 2006).Life Member in International Association of
Engineers Membership Number : 144855.Annual Member in All India Plastics Manufacturers Association. He is a
REVIEWER in International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT) Member ID : 114311. He published
more number of papers in many international Journal. Guided more than 100 students in Polytechnic projects

Mr M.Shanmugaraj working as aLecturer in Civil Engineering in VSVN Polytechnic College, Virudhunagar.with more
than 17 years of experience. Member in Board of Studies of Civil Engineering branch. Question paper setter and
Valuer for many Autonomous Polytechnic Colleges in Tamilnadu. Life Member in Indian Society for Technical
Engineering LM 35045

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