Interlocking concrete block pavement (ICBP) made with coconut fiber

Abstract

Lately there are many new products that are produced using waste materials, especially to produce construction materials. Use of other waste to avoid pollution of the environment can also reduce costs. Since 1984, Interlocking concrete block pavement (ICBP) becoming increasing popular and used at parking area and footpath. For this study, the paving block has been produced as a lightweight concrete with added foam into the mortar. Lightweight can be defined as a type of concrete which includes an expanding agent in that it increase the volume of the mixture while giving additional qualities such as nailbility and lessened the dead weight. The foam must be firm and stable so that it resists the pressure of the mortar until the cement takes its initial set and a strong skeleton of concrete is built up around the void filled with air. In this study, there have two (2) type of coconut fiber length which is coconut fiber with length 30 mm and 3.63 mm with different percentage which are 3%, 6%, 9% and 10% of coconut fiber. This study was carried out several laboratory tests to find out some important properties of a brick like strength and water absorptive. From the test that has been carried out, we can conclude that the block pavement made with coconut fiber length 30 mm was giving the higher strength than pavement made with 3.63mm of coconut fiber. It also can be concluded that the coconut fiber is a good absorbent agent. It’s because the water absorption capacity is still in range around 5% until 7% as mention at standard.