Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of High Strength Banana Fibre Concrete (HSBFC) incorporating Fly ash and Silica fume

Abstract: Concrete is the most dynamic engineering material in construction industry because of its strength properties as well as its durability. The consumption of raw materials not only depleted natural resources but also increases the toxic material in the environment by the construction industries. Now a days the by using the banana fibre in concrete is an efficient sustainable method. The paper presents an Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of High Strength Banana Fibre Concrete (HSBFC) incorporating Fly ash and Silica fume in concrete. Banana fibers are widely available worldwide as agricultural waste from Banana cultivation. Banana fibers are environmentally friendly and present important attributes, such as low density, light weight, low cost, high tensile strength, as well as being water and fire resistant. Replacement of cement by Pozzolonic materials up to 40% in the proportion of 20%, 25% and 30% Fly Ash & 10% silica fume. Determination of strength parameters with different percentages of banana fibers at 0%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% by weight of cement. M70 grade concrete and ordinary Portland cement of grade 53 will be used. The banana fiber reinforced concrete will be tested for compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and Durability tests at different ages of 7,14 and 28 days. Detailed laboratory studies will be carried out with different proportions of banana fiber to determine property of concrete such as compressive strength test, split tensile test, Flexural strength test. Durability test such as Water Absorption, Rapid Chloride ion Permeability Test (RCPT), Carbonation Resistance test, Sulphate Attack test, Hydrochloric acid attack, Freeze–Thaw Test also worked out. The Strength of the concrete in compression and flexure by adding 1.5% of banana fibre with Cement; partially replaced by 20% of Fly Ash and partially replaced by 10% of silica fume reveals better strength as compared to other combinations as proposed in this study.