Strength characteristics of banana and sisal fiber reinforced composites

Abstract

The steadily growing demand for various materials of buildings, the availability of natural sources was decreasing. It is necessary to use alternative materials for the construction of buildings. Fibers are of two types. They’re natural and artificial fibers where natural fibers are abundant and cheap in manufacturing, eco-friendly and renewable. Natural fibers have less density, low cost and fewer durability when compare to artificial fibers. The composite materials were reinforced by using natural fibers. By adding these natural fibers the properties of concrete in mechanical behavior were improved. Here banana and sisal natural fibers have been employed as reinforcement in composite materials. The abundant source of banana fiber is peduncle and pseudo-stem and sisal fiber is a leaf fiber that is very strong. There were many research works with the adoption of these fibers are in numerous percentages like 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% in concrete(M25 grade) and was casted by using Ordinary Portland Cement(53grade). This paper overviews the particulars and results of preceding years research papers and also compares the strength properties of banana fibers and sisal fibers viz tensile, flexural strength (modulus of rupture) and compression strength (cube strength).