Investigation of Landolphia Buchananii Stem as a Concrete Reinforcement Material

Abstract

The use of conventional materials in construction of buildings is facing two main challenges of high cost and large scale depletion of the source of the materials thus creating environmental problem. This challenges demand that alternative materials be explored that are not just affordable but are also environmentally friendly. In this regard, Landolphia buchananii is proposed as a possible concrete reinforcement material. This research study is on Landolphia buchananii as an alternative material for concrete reinforcement. In this research , stems of Landolphia buchananii plant found in Nandi forest in western Kenya was used to reinforced concrete beams which were then subjected to flexural test. Other physical and mechanical tests like moisture content, density, tensile, compression, shear, hardness, bending and pull out test of Landolphia buchananii and steel in concrete were also done in order to understand the basic properties of Landolphia buchananii as a reinforcement material. Concrete cubes compression test was also conducted in order to ensure that the concrete met the required target strength. The mean strengths of dry Landolphia buchananii was determined as follows; tensile strength as 87.2 N/mm2, shear strength as 9.8 N/mm2, compression strength as 23.7 N/mm2, hardness as 3666.5 N, bending strength as 47.8 N/mm2 and modulus of elasticity as 3349 N/mm2. The average compressive strength of the concrete was 20.8 N/mm2. The average interfacial bond strength of Landolphia buchananii in concrete was determined as 1.15 N/mm2 which was around 13 % that of steel which was 8.56 N/mm2 in concrete which was at the age of 28 days. The highest bending strength of Landolphia buchananii reinforced concrete beams was 2.82 N/mm2 which was corresponding to the largest area of reinforcement of Landolphia buchananii which was 2.14% of the cross section area of the beams casted. The results showed that the bending strength increased with increase in area of reinforcements of Landolphia buchananii. It was concluded that Landolphia buchananii can be used as tensile reinforcement of light structures. The strength tests of Landolphia buchananii reinforced beams obtained depicted that Landolphia buchananii can be used as a substitute for steel reinforcement in beams under low loading regimes such as in low rise lintel beams with load bearing walls.