THeSis 101

Tensile and Flexural Strength of Fibercrete Boards made from
Pineapple Fibers

The main objective of this study is to determine the tensile and flexural strength of a fiber concrete board with pineapple fibers from agricultural waste and determine its acceptability to be used as an alternative construction material.
The tensile and flexural strengths are measured from forty-eight (48) fiberboard specimens: twelve (12) specimens for tensile strength parallel to surface; twelve (12) specimens for tensile strength perpendicular to surface; twelve (12) specimens for flexural strength faced up; and twelve (12) specimens for flexural strength faced down. All specimens undergo curing in water for at least 28 days. Specimens taken from a commercial fiberboard, particularly a 6 mm Hardiflex board, are also tested.
Six (6) classes of mixtures with a thickness of 6 mm and 12 mm, with cement-sand ratio of 1:2, mixed with an increasing 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% cement-pineapple fiber ratio, and 0.8 water-cement ratio are prepared. The moisture content, apparent specific gravity and absorption of both the ground sand and cut pineapple fibers are also determined. The tensile strengths of pure pineapple fibers in single-strand and three-strand categories are also noted.
Tests are conducted using the Universal Testing Machine (UTM) of the NDDU Engineering Laboratory and results show that (a) the 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% pineapple fiber–cement ratio for the 6-mm specimen reach both the required tensile and flexural strengths of fiberboards, (b) the 3%, 4%, and 5% pineapple fiber–cement ratio for the 12-mm specimen reach both the required tensile and flexural strengths of fiberboards, (c) such mixtures are interpreted as acceptable to be used as an alternative construction material, and (d) using pineapple fibers as an admixture is one of the ways in recycling it.