CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Over the past few decades, the application of by-products in cement industry has

garnered positive outcomes in the consumption of raw materials, cost savings,

protecting the environment and conservation of natural resources. These resources for

concrete production are before long prone to dominating negative effects on the

environment besides being non-renewable. This growing demand of research tends to

develop alternative feed to reduce and maintain non-excessive usage of natural source.

Interests in recycling waste materials by utilizing them to modify concrete mixes.

Numerous works have been done in the area of adding and replacing the cement with

different pozzolans to improve mechanical strength and durability of concrete.

Considering sustainable natural materials for building construction should be “green”

and obtained from local sources. The study which uses the banana and bamboo leaf ash

as an additive for concrete mixing is used in wall structure. These waste materials are

abundant of supply extended throughout the world and eco-friendly. Ergo, this

research aims to provide transcend strength rendition of blended cement concrete.

Infrastructural development of any nation has the most versatile heterogeneous

construction materials known as concrete. Cracking mitigation (Kao, 2005) of polymer

fibers have been shown to be beneficial to the early age properties of concrete. Bamboo

leaf ash has been found to have pozzolanic properties after calcination. It is considered a

composite material due to its composition- cellulose fibers, imbedded in a lignin matrix.

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Cellulose fibers are aligned along the length of the bamboo which provides maximum

tensile flexural strength rigidity in that direction (G. Dhinakaran and

GangavaHariChandana, 2016).Banana ash has its own properties that can be found in

stem itself. It has low density, appropriate stiffness, high disposability and renewable

(Mudhopadhyay, 2008). It is an organic material, a waste product, much of a recycled

material that could lessen the total cost of production. We are aiming to make banana and

bamboo leaf ash as an effective alternative building material for CHB for residential

houses that handily available for everyone.

Recently, there are multiple studies concerning utilization of natural waste as an

additive in concrete mixing. Channeling the breaches with respect to the behavior of the

mixture of banana and bamboo leaf ash is posing various considerations.

The aforementioned gap leads the researchers to develop an additive which can

help in the structure. In this study, banana and bamboo leaf ash are used as an additive in

concrete mixing. Substantiating how much strength can be produce with the use of this

product. Enhancing, analyzing and developing the procedure for improvement and

innovation of the existing methods to compare the result of the banana and bamboo leaf

ash blended cement concrete that has been used in modern construction. Promoting

sustainable building materials needs to develop such alternative technologies.

1.1 Statement of the problem

One of the goals of this study is to have a positive and effective result of using

banana and bamboo leaf ash, as a substitution for cement on concrete. It is an effective

way in minimizing waste and it will be long-lasting and efficient which will suit in the

environment. Other than that, it is affordable and will have a low-cost of fabrication.

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However, the function and objectives in this study are not that easy. When setting up, in

bamboo leaf ash, the water absorption and apparent porosity were observed to increase

with increase in bamboo leaf ash (BLA) content, when the percentage of (BLA) increases

from 5% to 20% by mass it decreases the Bulk density. The more additives are to be

added in concrete mixing significantly increases tensile strength that affect the maximum

strength of the concrete hollow block.

In response to this problem, we need to come up with an idea, by conducting a

test and experiment that will identify the limits of the material and how the weather

conditions and surroundings can affect the strength and durability. Replacing cement of

2.5%,5% and 7.5% is sufficient for the fabrication of masonry mortar for both banana

and bamboo leaf ash (BLA). This can benefit the environment by recycling the material

and utilizing it to be useful and effective product for the society.

1.2 Objective of the study

The main objective of this research project is to aim the following:

1. This project involves the uses of banana and bamboo leaf ash respectively in

concrete to obtain durability property.

2. To resolve the problem in the flexural strength of banana and bamboo leaf ash.

3. To study the Strength development of banana and bamboo leaf ash at the ages of

7, 14, and 28 days for 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% replacement of cement.

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1.3 Significance of the study

This study contributes knowledge to all human kind especially to those people

that are related in engineering works. Serving as a foundation on how people can make

use of the resources that are present in a certain area; cognizance with the fact that a

certain organic material can also be a substitute as building material. The application of

banana and bamboo leaf ash as an alternative material is beneficial to all the people due

to its low cost as well as its high insulation and is much quicker to construct. This will

also benefit the environment for it will resolve problems on the disposal of waste and the

utilization of its uses as an effective product for the society.

1.4 Theoretical/Conceptual framework

Natural concrete is essentially strong in compression, but relatively low of tensile

strength and has a less ductility. Micro cracks are naturally present in concrete, because

of its tensile strength the cracks magnify with the application of the load, leading to the

brittle fracture of concrete, thus making the presence of tensile reinforcement in concrete

a necessary condition (Siddique, 1997). Plain concrete is basically strong in compression

but weak in tension and shear, has limited ductility. Micro cracks are inherently present

in concrete and because of its tensile strength the cracks magnify with the application of

the load, leading to the brittle fracture of concrete, thus making the presence of tensile

reinforcement in concrete unnecessary condition (Siddique, 1997). The tensile strength of

plain concrete is approximately 10 percent of the compressive strength of concrete

(Cook, 1980).Basically, the incorporation of random dispersion of small steel fibers to

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concrete increase the local tensile strength of concrete at a large number of points in

different direction, depending on the amount of added fibers and on the random direction

of these fibers.(Balaguru, 1992). The fibers are also evenly distributed drying shrinkage

under compressive and split tensile strength tests; shear stress develops along the surface

of the fiber. This shear stress helps to transfer load to the fiber. Fibers trap cracks and

reduce or delay their spread. The absence of the transverse cracks in the tensile zone of

the fiber-reinforced concrete will increase its rupture strength. In other words, the

incorporation of fibers converts the sudden brittle failure of plain concrete in tension into

a gradual and ductile failure. It is assumed that the tensile or compressive strength of

composite are affected by the variation of the length of fibers, the amount of fibers in the

mix and the method of fiber preparation. By evaluating the compressive or tensile

strength data, it is possible to establish a relationship between strength and fiber

percentage or fiber length.

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 Collection of Materials

Cleaning

Crushing and Sieving

Inceneration

Calcination

Design mix and Molding

Curing and Testing

Result Evaluation

Design concrete mix with BFA and BLA as a partial

replacement for cement

Figure 1.1

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1.5 Scope and Limitation

This research will primarily cover on the importance of the banana fiber ash and

bamboo leaf ash can provide to the structure and what are the effects of using such

material. This study will discuss more on the advantages and disadvantages of using

banana and bamboo leaf ash as a substitute material for concrete and how to manifest the

properties it naturally provides.

1.6 Definition of terms

For the common frame of the reference, the following terms are concisely defined;

Admixture.Substances introduced into a batch of concrete. In addition to main

components of concrete like cement, sand, coarse aggregates and water.

BLA.bamboo leaf ash

Compressive strength. The capacity of a material or structure to withstand loads tending

to reduce size, as opposed to tensile strength which withstand loads tending to elongate.

Concrete.The most versatile heterogeneous construction material.

Fine aggregates.Natural sand which has been washed and sieved to remove particles

larger than 5mm.

flexural strength.An objects ability to bend without obtaining any major deformities.

Moisture Test.determines the amount of liquid that is present in a certain material.

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Portland cement. Brittle material which has a very low tensile strength limited ductility

and little resistance cracking.

Pozzolan.Is a siliceous and aluminous material which in itself possesses little for no

cementitiousvalue.

Rendition.A performance of add mixtures in concrete.

Sustainable materials.Ability to be sustained, supported, upheld or confirmed. Able to

maintaine at a certain rate or level.