Elucidation of Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Coconut Husk Mortar as a Sustainable Building Material for Ferrocement

Kalaivani Kumarasamy, Gunasekaran Kandasamy () and Annadurai Ramasamy
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Kalaivani Kumarasamy: Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai 603203, India
Gunasekaran Kandasamy: Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai 603203, India
Annadurai Ramasamy: Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai 603203, India

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-28

Abstract: The main objective of this study is to use coconut husk to produce mortar for ferrocement. Mortar mix proportions are selected per ACI codes’ recommendation and the WRD Handbook. Four types of mortars: Cement and River Sand mortar (CSM), Cement, River Sand and Steel fibre mortar (CSSFM), Cement and Coconut Husk mortar (CCHM), and Cement, River Sand (60%), Coconut Husk (40%), and Steel fibre mortar (CSCHSFM) are used for this study Microstructural studies like SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR analysis on cement mortar constituents and mortar mixes are studied and reported. At 3, 7, and 28 days tests of hardened mortar, such as compressive, split tensile, flexural strength, and impact strength resistance, were studied. Test results revealed that the coconut husk is innovative and sustainable and could be an alternative fine aggregate that can be utilized in place of river sand, which in turn can be used for mortar production. Since it has a lesser density which proves to be an advantage for developing lightweight mortar, it can be used for ferrocement applications.

Keywords: coconut husk; waste utilization; mortar; microstructural properties; hardened properties; sustainable building material (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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