Abstract:
More often, steel is used as reinforcement in concrete because of its high tensile
strength. Unfortunately steel is not produced in all parts of the world hence leading to
a higher cost of steel that has to be imported from abroad, resulting in higher cost for
housing. This study evaluates the potential to utilize mangrove as reinforcement in
concrete structural members.
A total of three singly mangrove reinforced beams (beams reinforced with two
mangrove poles) and nine doubly mangrove reinforced beams (beams reinforced with
four mangroves) of 1100 mm length having 150 mm width and 250 mm depth
reinforced variably were tested in flexure and compared with steel reinforced concrete
control beams. Flexural test on mangrove reinforced beams demonstrated that using
mangrove as reinforcement in concrete can increases the load carrying capacity of
reinforced concrete beam having the same dimensions.
Besides, 18 small-scale short square columns having the same cross section of 87 x
87 mm and 350 mm in height with different types of reinforcement were tested under
concentric loading to investigate strength capacity, deflection and failure patterns.
The results showed that the load carrying capacity of the column increased with
decrease in percentage of mangrove reinforcement for columns reinforced with four
mangrove poles and the increase is not proportional to the percentage of
reinforcement. It is also determined that mangrove poles have enhanced the ductility
of columns compared to the plain concrete column.
