CHAPTER – 1

INTRODUCTION
1. General
The use of fibers as reinforcement is as old as human
civilization. Traces of natural fibers such as flax, cotton, silk, wool and
plant fibers have
been located in ancient civilizations all over the globe. The major
advantage
of fiber reinforcement is to impart additional energy absorbing
capability and to transform a brittle material into a pseudo ductile material.
Fibres in cement or in concrete serve as crack arrestor which can create a
stage of slow crack propagation and gradual failure. There has been a
growing interest in utilizing natural fibres as reinforcement in polymer
composite for making low cost construction materials in recent years.
Natural fibres are prospective reinforcing materials and their use until now
has been more traditional than technical. River sand, which is one of the
constituents used in the production of conventional concrete, has become
highly expensive and also scarce. In the backdrop of such a bleak
atmosphere, there is large demand for alternative materials from industrial
waste. This project aims the feasibility of using sisal fibre with the partial
replacement of fly-ash in conventional concrete.

2. BENEFITS OF SISAL FIBRE

 Increases the Tensile strength of concrete

 Arrests the micro-cracks in concrete

 Low production cost

 Increases the Toughness.

 Promoting environmental protection for our ecosystem.

 Enhance green building construction,

1 like the use natural resources.
 CHAPTER-2
LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Introduction
This chapter presents the background to the needs for development
of alternative material for sand in construction and the use of granite powder
waste
on concrete work. The technology is briefly reviewed with the
terminology and behaviour.
2. Review of Literatures
Engr. F. Silva and Dr. R. D.
T. Filho: “SISAL FIBER
REINFORCEMENT OF DURABLE THIN WALLED STRUCTURES – A
NEW PERSPECTIVE” The durability and low performance of
natural fiber
reinforced concrete has always been a major drawback. To overcome this
problem, a new approach was used: long fibers combined with the development
of a matrix compatible with natural fibers. Durable cement-based laminates
reinforced with five layers of long, unidirectional aligned sisal fibers were
developed. Flat sheets were cast by a manual hand lay-up technique in a self-
compacted cement matrix and then compressed with a pressure of 3 MPa. To
ensure the durability of the composites, the Portland cement (PC) matrix was
modified by the replacement of PC by metakaolin and calcined waste crushed
clay brick to consume the calcium hydroxide generated during the hydration of
the Portland cement. To evaluate the durability, accelerated aging tests was
performed. Wetting and drying cycles were conducted, and their results showed
that the use of free calcium hydroxide matrices resulted in a composite with
improved durability. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the
composite’s microstructure.

4
 CHAPTER-4
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
1. Introduction
This chapter deals with the study of experimental investigation of various
materials like cement, Granite Powder, coarse aggregate, water that were used in
Granite Powder partially replaced concrete.
2.Materials Used
Cement
The most commonly available Portland cement of 53-grade was used for
the investigation. Cement was bought from the same source throughout the
research work. While storing cement, all possible contact with moisture
was avoided.
Portland cement is foremost among the construction materials used in
civil
engineering projects around the world. The reasons for its often use are
varied, but among the more important are the economic and widespread
availability of its constituents, its versatility and adaptability, as evidenced by
the many types of construction in which it is used and the minimal maintenance
requirements during service ( Mindess et al., 2003). Concrete is unique among
major construction materials in that it is generally designed specifically for a
particular project using locally available materials (Lay, 1990). Regarding its
composition, concrete is considered a composite material made of coarse
granular material (the aggregate or filler) embedded in a hard matrix of material
(the cement or binder) that fills the space between the aggregate particles and
glues them together (Mindess et al., 2003). Aggregates can be obtained from
many different kinds of materials, but the most used materials, but the most
used materials from the nature are common rocks. There is a wide variety of
cements that are used to some extent in the construction and building
industries, or to solve special engineering problems (Bentz, 2001).
9
can limit strength and wear resistance, and sometimes it may also break down

during mixing and adversely affect workability by increasing the amount of

fines.

Rocks that tend to fracture easily along specific planes can also limit strength

and wear resistance. Aggregates should also be free of impurities like silt, clay,

dirt,

or organic matter. If these materials coat the surfaces of the aggregate, they will

isolate the aggregate particles from the surrounding concrete, causing a

reduction in strength. Silt, clay and other fine materials will increase the water

requirements of the concrete, and the organic matter may interfere with the

cement hydration. The properties of fine and coarse aggregate as follows.

Water

Water is an important ingredient of concrete as it actually participates in

the chemical reaction with cement. In general, water fit for drinking is suitable

for mixing concrete. Impurities in the water may affect setting time, strength,

shrinkage of concrete or promote corrosion of reinforcement. Locally available

drinking water was used in the present work.

Sisal fibre

The sisal fibers used in this investigation were characterized by Silva et al.

and they presented a mean density, elastic modulus and tensile strength of 0.9

g/cm3, 19 GPa and 400 MPa, respectively [18].

These fibers were extracted from the sisal plant in a farm located in the city

of Valente, state of Bahia – Brazil. 12

They present an irregular cross section

with
 Fig 4.1 SISAL FIBRE Plant

Fig 4.2 SISAL FIBRE Products

14
Procedure
1. The sample should be thoroughly washed to remove finer particles and
dust, drained and then placed in the wire basket and immersed in distilled
water at a temperature between 22 and 32oC.
2. After immersion, the entrapped air should be removed by lifting the
basket and allowing it to drop 25 times in 25 seconds.
3. The basket and sample should remain immersed for a period of 24 + ½
hrs.
4. The basket and fibre should then be removed from the water, allowed to
drain for a few minutes, after which the fibre should be gently emptied
from the basket on to one of the dry clothes and gently surface-dried with
the cloth, transferring it to a second dry cloth when the first would
remove no further moisture.
5. The fibre should be weighed (Weight 'A').
6. The fibre should then be placed in an oven at a temperature of 100 to 110
o
C for 24hrs.
7. It should then be removed from the oven, cooled and weighed (Weight
'B').

Calculations:
Table - 4.3

Water absorption of Sisal fibre

Specimen Weight of oven Weight of Weight of percentage

No dried specimen saturated water of water
(g) specimen absorbed (g) absorptio
(g) n in %
1 16.63 44.01 27.38 164%

18
Result:
Water absorption of the sisal fibre is = 164%

4.3.2.2 Moisture content

Aim:

To determine the
moisture content of
the sisal fibre by
oven drying.

Apparatus Required:

Thermostatically
controlled oven, pan
and balance of
sufficient accuracy.

Formulae:

Moisture Content M (A-D)/D × 100

Where,

A= Weight of dry drain

sample. B= Weight of oven

drain sample.
Procedure:

1. Take the clean pan and determine

its weight

2. Take a sample and keep the pan

in the oven.

3. After 24 hours, take the pan and

note its weight.
19
4. Note the pan number for
identification.
 4. The contents are emptied and cleaned with water. Its then filled with fresh
water up to the brim and weighed (W4).

Calculati
on:
Table-4.6
Determinati
S.no Weight in gm Specific
on of gravity (G)
specific W1 (gm) W2 (gm) W3 (gm) W4 (gm)
gravity of
sand
1 665 1813 2202 1518 2.47

Specific gravity = (W2 - W1)

. (W2 -
Result: W1) - (W3 - W4)
The specific gravity of sand G = 2.47.

4. Coarse Aggregate
1. Water absorption
Aim
To determine the water absorption of coarse aggregates as
per IS: 2386 (Part III) - 1963.
Apparatus:
1. Wire basket - perforated, electroplated or plastic coated with wire hangers
for suspending it from the balance
2. Water-tight container for suspending the basket
3. Dry soft absorbent cloth - 75cm x 45cm (2 nos.)
4. Shallow tray of minimum 650 sq.cm area
5. Air-tight container of a capacity similar to the basket
6. Oven

22
Sample:
A sample not less than 2000g should be used.
Procedure:
1. The sample should be thoroughly washed to remove finer particles and
dust, drained and then placed in the wire basket and immersed in distilled
water at a temperature between 22 and 32oC.
2. After immersion, the entrapped air should be removed by lifting the
basket and allowing it to drop 25 times in 25 seconds.
3. The basket and sample should remain immersed for a period of 24 + ½
hrs.
4. The basket and aggregates should then be removed from the water,
allowed to drain for a few minutes, after which the aggregates should be
gently emptied from the basket on to one of the dry clothes and gently
surface- dried with the cloth, transferring it to a second dry cloth when
the first would remove no further moisture.
5. The aggregates should be weighed (Weight 'A').

6. The aggregates should then be placed in an oven at a temperature of 100

to 110oC for 24hrs.

7. It should then be removed from the oven, cooled and

weighed (Weight 'B').

23
Calculation:
Table-4.8

Determination of specific gravity of Coarse Aggregate

S.no Weight in gm Specific
gravity (G)
W1 (gm) W2 (gm) W3 (gm) W4 (gm)

1 666 1942 1531 665 2.61

Result:
The specific gravity of coarse aggregate G = 2.61.

4. Tests on Fresh Concrete

1. Slump cone penetration test
Aim
To determine the workability of fresh concrete by slump test as per
IS: 1199 - 1959.
Apparatus
1. Slump cone
2. Tamping rod
Procedure
1. The internal surface of the mould is thoroughly cleaned and
applied with a

light coat of oil.

2. The mould is placed on a smooth, horizontal, rigid and non-absorbent

surface. The mould is then filled in four layers with freshly mixed

concrete, each approximately to one-fourth of the height of the mould.

25
 4.4.2 Compaction factor test
Aim
To determine the workability of fresh concrete by compacting factor test

as per IS: 1199 - 1959.

Apparatus
Compacting factor apparatus
Procedure
1. The sample of concrete is placed in the upper hopper up to the brim.

2. The trap-door is opened so that the concrete falls into the lower hopper.

3. The trap-door of the lower hopper is opened and the concrete is

allowed to fall into the cylinder.

4. The excess concrete remaining above the top level of the cylinder is

then cut off with the help of plane blades.

5. The concrete in the cylinder is weighed. This is known as weight

of partially compacted concrete.

6. The cylinder is filled with a fresh sample of concrete and vibrated

to obtain full compaction.

7. The concrete in the cylinder is weighed again. This weight is known

as the weight of fully compacted concrete.

It can be realized that the compacting factor test measures the inherent
characteristics of the concrete which very close to the workability requirements
of concrete and as such it is one of the good tests to depict the workability of
concrete.
Fully compacted weight =19.735Kg

27
 Partial compacted weight =17.356Kg
Compaction factor = Partial compacted weight/ fully compacted weight
Result:
Compaction factor = 0.87

Fig 4.4 compaction factor test

28
 TABLE 4.10
Compressive strength (N/mm²)

SPECIMEN 3 DAYS 7 DAYS 28 DAYS

S2 31 41 44.5

S4 32 40.1 42.5

S6 32 41.4 43

Result:
The compressive strength of concrete was found out.

Fig 4.5 compressive test of concrete cube

30
CHAPTER - 5
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1.Experimental results
Strength Tests
1. Compressive
strength
TABLE 5.1
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (N/mm²)
SPECIMEN 3 DAYS 7 DAYS 28 DAYS

S2 31 41 44.5

S4 32 40.1 42.5

S6 32 41.4 43

compressive strength (N/mm²)

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
3 DAYS 7 DAYS 28 DAYS

S2
S4
S6

Figure 5.1
33
 Silva, F. A., Ghavami, K., d'Almeida, J.R.M., (Toughness of
Cementitious Composites Reinforced by Randomly Sisal Pulps), in
Eleventh International Conference on Composites Engineering - ICCE-11,
2004, Hilton Head Island - SC. Proceedings of the Eleventh International
Conference on Composites Engineering. Hilton Head Island - SC: ICCE -
11, 2004.
 Silva, F.A., Melo Filho, J.A., Toledo Filho, R.D., Fairbairn, E.M.R.
(Mechanical behavior and durability of compression moulded sisal fiber
cement mortar laminates (SFCML)), in 1st International RILEM
Conference on Textile Reinforced Concrete (ICTRC), Aachen,
Proceedings, (2006) 171-180.
 Swift, D.F., Smith, R.B.L., (The flexural Strength of Cement-Based
Composites Using Low Modulus (sisal) Fibers), Composites, p. 145-
148, 1979.

 Toledo Filho, R. D., Joseph, K., Ghavami, K., England, G.L., (The use
of sisal fiber as reinforcement in cement based composites), Brazilian
Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Vol. 3, p. 245-
256, 1999.

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