The structural properties and optimum mix proportions of palmnut fibre-reinforced mortar composite

Thirty six cement mortar mixes of widely differing water cement ratios were used to prepare fibre-mortar mixes with fibre volume fraction ranging from 0.5 to 4%. Relevant mechanical properties—compressive, tensile and flexural strengths of the composite were determined in order to study the effect of mix proportions on these properties. These properties were compared with those of corresponding plain mortar mixes. The results show that while palmnut fibre reduced the compressive and tensile strengths of mortar, the flexural strength of the composite is improved by up to 33%. A sand cement ratio of 2.0, water cement ratio of 0.60 and fibre volume fraction of 2.0% were found to be the optimum mix proportions.