Impact strength of a few natural fibre reinforced cement mortar slabs: a comparative study

This paper presents the experimental investigations of the resistance to impact loading of cement mortar slabs (1:3, size: 300mm x 300min x 20mm) reinforced with four natural fibres, coir, sisal, jute, hibiscus cannebinus and subjected to impact loading using a simple projectile test. Four different fibre contents (0.5%, 1.0%7 1.5% and 2.5%-by weight of cement) and three fibre lengths (20mm, 30mm and 40mm) were considered. The results obtained have shown that the addition of the above natural fibres has increased the impact resistance by 3-18 times than that of the reference (i.e. plain) mortar slab. Of the four fibres, coir fibre reinforced mortar slab specimens have shown the best performance based on the set of chosen indicators, i.e. the impact resistance (R-u), residual impact strength ratio (I-rs) impact crack-resistance ratio (C-r) and the condition of fibre at Ultin-late failure. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.