Mechanical performance and durability of banana fibre and coconut coir reinforced cement stabilized soil blocks

Abstract

Agricultural waste disposal is said to be amongst one of the pressing environmental problems in many countries. Finding economical usage for this waste by incorporating it in a product is the approach often used to overcome associated environmental issues. Banana fibre and coconut coir are major agricultural waste products in Sri Lanka and fewer amounts of these are converted into usable products. Manufacturing cement-stabilized soil blocks incorporating these waste materials is envisaged to reduce environmental impact. The present study focused on the post-peak behaviour and durability of banana fibre and coconut coir-strengthened cement-stabilized soil blocks. Banana fibre and coconut coir reinforced cement-stabilized soil blocks were tested for compression, flexural bending, water absorption, sorptivity, resistance against chemicals, wet-dry weathering and freeze-thaw weathering. The banana fibre showed better post-peak behaviour in compression and coconut coir showed better post-peak behaviour in flexural. Both fibre reinforcements improved durability of cement block against acid attack, alkaline attack, wet-dry weathering and freeze-thaw weathering. Moreover, the specimen reinforced with coconut coir was found to exhibit better durability compared to the specimen reinforced with banana fibres.