TITLE:
Compressive and Flexural Strengths of Cement Stabilized Earth Bricks Reinforced with Treated and Untreated Pineapple Leaves Fibres
AUTHORS:
Nounagnon A. Vodounon, Christopher Kanali, John Mwero
KEYWORDS:
Compressed Stabilized Bricks, Treated Pineapple Leaf Fibres, Laterite Bricks, Compressive Strength, Flexural Strength and Reinforced
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Composite Materials,
Vol.8 No.4,
October
30,
2018
ABSTRACT: This study compares the effect of treated pineapple leaves fibres (T-PALF)
with sodium hydroxide solution and untreated fibres (N-PALF) on the compressive
and flexural strength of earth bricks stabilized with 3% and 5% cement.
The fibre content ranged from 0% to 5% in steps of 1% by weight. The
compressive strength tests were made at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of curing; the
flexural strength test were conducted at 28th day only. The results show that
the T-PALF had a higher compressive strength when comparing to the
N-PALF. The highest compressive strength of the bricks was obtained at 28
days of curing. The compressive strength at 28 days of stabilized brick at 3%
and 5% of cement reinforced with T-PALF were 4.01 and 4.81 MPa, respectively,
while the one reinforced with N-PALF was 3.19 and 4.63 MPa, respectively.
The results further show that the highest flexural strength of both stabilized
bricks at 3% and 5% of cement reinforced with T-PALF and N-PALF
was obtained with the bricks stabilized with 5% of cement reinforced with
T-PALF. This results show that bricks stabilized with 5% cement and reinforced
with 3% of treated fibres content are good for construction of load
bearing walls. It was observed; a significant improvement of the reinforced
blocks under flexure than under compression.