Physical Characteristics and Compressive Strength of Raffia Fibre Reinforced Sandcrete Blocks

This study investigated the effect of raffia palm fibres on the  compressive strength of solid sandcrete blocks. The (120 x 120 x 100) mm sandcrete blocks were reinforced with 1%, 2%, and 3% raffia palm fibre, and cured with irrigation method. At each testing day (7, 14, 21 and 28 days after moulding), the physical characteristics (density, water absorption and swelling rate) and compressive strength of the blocks were tested. The test results obtained showed that fibre size had no significant effect on the compressive strength, water absorption and swelling rate of the blocks. But fibre volume had significant (P ≤0.05) on the compressive strength, water absorption and swelling rate of the blocks. The compressive strength generally decreased with an increase in the fibre volume, while the water absorption and swelling rate of the blocks increased with an increase in fibre content. At day 28, the compressive strength of the blocks was 3.15 N/mm2, 2.49 N/mm2, 2.065 N/mm2, and 1.921 N/mm2, for 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% raffia fibre content respectively. The water absorption rate was 7.82%, 8.53%, 10.85%, and 11.41% for  0%, 1%, 2% and 3% raffia fibre content, while the average density decreased from 1954.20 kg/m3 at 0% to 1522.35kg at 3% fibre content.