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ABSTRACT
Sustainability is a wide accepted concept in modern construction scenario. Even though the construction industry is revolutionizing in a significant manner in terms of both equipment and materials used, the cost of construction has skyrocketed along with the deteriorative impact on environment. This resulted in the adoption of a more balanced approach with the environment as its nerve centre to create a better world to live in. This has led to the adoption of a natural fibre like Coconut for the strength enhancement in concrete. This study aimed at analyzing the variation in strength of coconut fiber (oil coated raw and oil coated processed fibres) reinforced concrete at varying fibre contents and to compare it with that of conventional concrete. The various strength aspects analyzed are the flexural, compressive and tensile strength of the coconut fiber reinforced concrete at varying percentages (4%,5%,6% by the weight of cement) of fibre. The influence of shape of fibre on strength was also studied, The optimal percentage of both the processed fibre strands and raw fibre meshes were found out by trial and error and the optimum percentage of super plasticizer needed for the required workability was also determined. After carrying out several test process as required for this project, I have come to a conclusion from observation that at 5% addition of coconut fibre with a water cement ratio of 0.5, compressive strength tests yielded best results. also When fibre content is increased there is an increase in flexural strength with a maximum at 5% of fibre and When the fibre content is x increased there is an increase in split tensile strength with a maximum at 5% . Since the corrosion study is not done, the applicability of CFRC in reinforced constructions could be tested. Coconut fibre is a good insulator independently and as such it can improve the thermal properties of concrete. This is particularly useful in a tropical country like Nigeria.
