Compressive strength and crack propagation of cement composites reinforced coconut fibre

Abstract

This study presents the compressive strength and crack propagation of cement composites reinforced coconut fibre. The development of cement composites in this research were done by substituting coconut fibre to the portion of sand based on the ratio of cement to sand. Cement composites were mixed with 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 wt. % of coconut fibre and amount of water per cement ratio was fixed at 0.55. They were then cured in water for 7,14 and 28 days of curing. The result obtained that the cement composite with 9 wt. % of coconut fibre gives highest compressive strength and the crack propagation is controlled by coconut fibre addition.