The Span Optimization for Palmnut Fiber Reinforced Mortar Roofing Tiles

Certification ........................................................................................

, . Dedication ...............................................................................................

Acknowledgement ........................... ... .............................................

List of Tables ........................................................................................

List of Figures .....................................................................................

List of Plates ......................................................................................

List of Symbols ....................................................................................

Abstract .................... .. ... .................................................................

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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 1

1.1 Background ................................................................................ 1

1.2 Objectives and Definition of the Project ...................... .... 5

1.3 Scope of the Project .................... .......................................... 6

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................ 7

2.1 General ......................................................................................... 7

2.2 Fibres 9 ..........................................................................................

2.2.1 Inorganic Fibres ................................................................... 10

2.2.2 Organic Fibres ...................................................................... 11

2.3 Mechanics of Fibre Reinforcement of Cement Materials .............. 15

2.3.1 .Fibre Geometry ..................................................................... 17

2.3.2 Fibre Spacing ..................................................................... 17

2.3.3 Fibre Volume Fraction and Aspect Ratio ........................ 18

2.3.4 Fibre Orientation ............................................................... 20

2.3.5 Mix Proportions ................................................................. 21

2.4 Properties of Inorganic Fibre-Cement Composites .......... ......... 22

2.5 Properties of Organic Fibre-Cement Composites ........................ 25

2.6 Applications of Fibre-Cement Composites .................... ........... 30

2.6.1 Housing Applications ........................................................ 31

2.7 Palmgut Fibre ......................... .................................................. 33

CHAPTER THREE: PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF

PALMNUT FIBRE ............... ................................. 35

3.1 General Description ................................................................... 35

3.2 Stress-Strain Characteristics ......................................................... 35

3.3 Specific Gravity ............................................................................ 54

3.4 Bulk Density ................................................................................... 55

3.5 Water Absorption .............. - ..................... 56

. CHAPTER FOUR: RAW MATERIALS AND TEST PROCEDURE .......... 5 8

Procurement of Raw Materials ....................................................... 58

Mixing Technique .................................................................... 59

Curing Condition .... .......... .. ........ .......... .... . . ................... .. . . 61

Flexural Strength .............................. ......... ......, .. .. .. .. ..... ....... ..... 61

Tensile Strength ........................................................................ 62

Compressive Strength ......... .......... . .............. .. . . . . ........ . . 64

Density ...... .. .. .. .. . ... .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . . . .. ,. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Water Absorption ...... .......... ............ .... ., ,.............. . . . .... . , . ,. . 65

CHAPTER FIVE: TEST RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION ..... 66

Test Results . .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. , , , . . . .. . . .. .. .. . . . . .. . . ,. . ... .... ...... 66

Statistical Analysis ............................................ ....... . 66

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Graphical Representation ................................................ . .............. 86

Mathematical Model ........................................... . ........... . ....... 133

Test for Extremum ...................................... , ,.,.. . .... ..................... 145

Discussion of Test Results ......................................................... 148

CHAPTER SIX: PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

OF PALMNUT FIBRE-MORTAR ROOFING TILES 15