Effect of Increasing Amount of Sisal Fabric on Density, Compressive Strength and Flexural Strength of Sisal Fabric Reinforced Concrete Composite

Abstract

This study examines the impact of adding plain-woven sisal fibres on the mechanical characteristics of sisal reinforced concrete composites. Analysis of the mechanical strength was done in relation to their density, compressive strength, and flexural strength. The sisal fabric composite matrix contained up to four layers of sisal fabric, which was either NaOH treated or untreated. The properties of sisal fabric reinforced concrete were compared to those of steel reinforced concrete. With addition of layers of sisal fabric, the flexural strength of both NaOH-treated and untreated concrete composites increased to a maximum of 18.2 MPa, which was less than steel reinforced at 20.59 MPa. As the number of fabric layers increased, both NaOH-treated and untreated composites’ compressive strength decreased. Although the compressive strength for treated sisal fabric composites decreased by 14.6%, it remained above the desired level of 30 MPa. For untreated sisal fabric composites compressive strength decreased by 18.0% and decreased below the target compressive strength of 30 MPa for up to four layers of fabric added. In comparison to control concrete, the density of concrete with treated sisal fabric decreased to up to 6.05% while for concrete with NaOH treated fabric decreased by 4.90%.