PET FIBRE REINFORCED COCONUT SHELL CONCRETE (PFRCSC)

Bharati Raj, Beegumafsana A, Jasmine Thajudeen, Rahna L, Shifana S, Swathi MS

Abstract: Aggregates generally occupy 60% to 75% of the concrete volume and strongly influence the fresh and hardened properties and economy of concrete. The continued extraction of aggregates from nature has caused its depletion at an alarming rate. The worldwide depletion of natural resources and the simultaneous accumulation of waste materials call for the need for sustainable development in the construction industry. Hence, recent researches have been focussed on the use of locally available waste materials such as coconut shell, plastic, etc., in concrete to replace the mineral aggregates. This study deals with the strength characteristics of PET fibre reinforced coconut shell concrete (PFRCSC). Earlier studies have shown that when coconut shell was used in concrete to replace the coarse aggregates, compressive strength was decreased considerably. But, this reduction in strength was significantly low for 10% coarse aggregate replacement. Also, the inclusion of polythene fibres made from waste plastic bottles was noted to improve the strength characteristics of concrete. Hence, an attempt has been made to combine the positive characteristics of both coconut shell concrete (CSC) and PET Concrete. M30 normal concrete and CSC concrete with 10% coarse aggregate of normal concrete replaced by coconut shell has been taken as thecontrol mixes. PET fibres made from waste plastic bottles were added at volume fractions of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%. The mechanical properties such as density, compressive strength, tensile strengthand flexural strength were determined and compared with the control mixes. The experimental investigations were carried out on a total of 180 specimens which includes cubes, cylinders and prisms. The results indicate that PFRCSC is a sustainable, eco-friendly and economical concrete with better engineering properties and strength characteristics in comparison with normal concrete and coconut shell concrete.

Keywords: Coconut, Fibres, Plastic, Polythene, And Sustainable

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2016.0532031