University of Northern Iowa UNI ScholarWorks Dissertations and Theses @ UNI Student Work 1988 An analysis of the abaca natural fiber in einforr cing concrete composites as a construction material in developing countries Rolando V. Magdamo University of Northern Iowa Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Copyright ©1988 Rolando V. Magdamo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd Part of the Construction Engineering and Management Commons, and the Materials Science and Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Magdamo, Rolando V., "An analysis of the abaca natural fiber in einforr cing concrete composites as a construction material in developing countries" (1988). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 865. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/865 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Work at UNI ScholarWorks. 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Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Order Number 8919070 An analysis of the abaca natural fiber in reinforcing concrete composites as a construction material in developing countries Magdamo, Rolando V., D.I.T. University of Northern Iowa, 1988 Copyright ©1988 by Magdamo, Rolando V . A ll rights reserved. 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. AN ANALYSIS OF THE ABACA NATURAL FIBER IN REINFORCING CONCRETE COMPOSITES AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES A Dissertation Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Industrial Technology- Approved: Dr. Mohammed F. Fahmy, Advisor f Dr. Ronald D. Bro, Co-Advisor Jack F. Kimball, Member Rolando V. Magdamo University of Northern Iowa July 1988 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by ROLANDO V. MAGDAMO July 1988 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The writer wishes to express his thanks and sincere appreciation to the following: To his doctoral advisory committee: Dr. Mohammed F. Fahmy, Dr. Ronald D. Bro, Dr. M. Roger Betts, Dr. Harley E. Erickson, and Dr. Jack F. Kimball; To Dr. Mohammed F. Fahmy for his professional guidance, technical expertise and efforts relating to the scanning electron micrographs which have greatly contributed to the completion of this study; To Dr. Harley E. Erickson for his expertise, guidance and genuine concern relating to the statistical analysis of the data gathered; To Ms. Joyce E. Broell for her time and patience in typing this dissertation; and to his wife, Lilia and son, Neil for their patience, understanding and encouragement during the progress of this work. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Paee CHAPTER I--THE PROBLEM .................................. 1 Introduction ....................................... 1 Statement of the Problem .............................. 3 Purpose of the Study .................................. 3 Hypotheses ........................................... 3 Importance of the S t u d y .............................. 4 Assumptions ......................................... 7 Limitations of the Study .............................. 7 Definition of Terms .................................. 8 CHAPTER II--REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ................... 9 Introduction ......................................... 9 Asbestos Fibers as Reinforcing Material in Cement .... 11 Steel Fibers as Reinforcing Material in Concrete ........ 12 Polypropylene Fibers in Concrete ...................... 15 Natural Fibers as Reinforcing Material in Concrete .... 17 Coconut Fiber .................................... 18 Sisal Fiber ...................................... 19 Abaca Fiber ...................................... 20 Grading of abaca fiber ...................... 21 Microscopic characteristics of abaca .......... 21 Chemical composition of abaca ............... 22 Fiber characterization ...................... 22 Structure and properties of abaca ........... 23 Abaca in u s e ................................ 24 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. iv Title Page S u m m a r y ............................................. 24 CHAPTER III--METHODOLOGY ................................ 26 Procedure of the Study ................................ 26 Methods of Investigation.............................. 29 Methods of Measurement ................................ 30 The Sample S i z e ...................................... 30 The Concrete Mix Designs .............................. 31 The Equipment ........................................ 31 Flexural Testing ...................................... 33 Splitting Tensile Testing ............................ 36 Scanning Electron Microscope Procedure ................. 39 Scanning Electron Microscope ..................... 39 Sample Preparation and Failure Analysis ........... 40 Scanning Electron Microscope Procedures ........... 41 SEM Sample Preparation .......................... 42 CHAPTER IV--EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ........... 43 Flexural Strength Analysis ............................ 43 D i s c u s s i o n ........................................... 46 Statistical Analysis of Flexural Strength ............. 47 Splitting Tensile Strength Analysis ................... 49 Statistical Analysis of Splitting Tensile Strength .... 52 Testing of Hypotheses ................................ 53 Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis ................. 56 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Title Page Abaca Natural Fiber .............................. 56 Abaca Fibers taken from Failed Concrete Specimens . 59 CHAPTER V--SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS........ 66 Restatement of the Problem and Purpose ................. 66 Summary of Findings .................................. 67 Conclusions .......................................... 71 Recommendations ...................................... 73 REFERENCES ............................................... 75 APPENDICES ............................................... 78 A. Flexural Beams Strength Test Results ............... 78 B. Flexural Beams Deflection Readings in Group I - Control Group .................................... 79 C. Flexural Beams Deflection Readings in Group II - 0.2% Fiber Group .................................. 80 D. Flexural Beams Deflection Readings in Group III - 0.4% Fiber Group .................................. 81 E. Flexural Beams Strain/Stress Readings .............. 82 F. Flexural Beams Strain/Stress Readings .............. 83 G. Flexural Beams Strain/Stress Readings .............. 84 H. Stress/Strain Diagram - Group I - Control Group . 85 I. Stress/Strain Diagram - Group II - 0.2% Fiber Group . 86 J. Stress/Strain Diagram - Group III - 0.4% Fiber Group . 87 K. Concrete Cylinders Splitting Tensile Test Results . 88 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. vi Title Page L. Modulus of Rupture as Calculated from Flexural Strength Results (in P S I ) ..................... 89 M. Modulus of Rupture (in PSI) by B a t c h