Preparation and testing of fibre reinforced <i>Zea mays</i> and <i>Calotropis gigantea</i> concrete material under various testing conditions

Abstract

This paper provides an implementation of improved modelling of fibre reinforced composites with natural fibres namely: Zea mays and Calotropis gigantea. The main aim of inducing such natural fibres to form composites is to improve its structural and water resistant properties. These natural fibres are used for improving the fibre bending stiffness that enhances the strength of the concrete composites. The proposed method uses hand layup method to prepare the solid composite under varying temperature and period. The use of randomly oriented discontinuous fibre reinforced composite is used for preparing the mould. Further, three different samples are prepared using the mould for tensile testing, impact testing and water absorption testing. This improves the structural properties, composite strength with increased fibre length, fineness without grains, uniformity and stiffness. The test results show that the proposed pattern for improving the fibre reinforced concrete composite improves well its structural and other related properties of the concrete with higher tensile and impact factors.