Improvement in Soil Subgrade Using Natural Fibre (Kenaf and Coir Fibre)

Purpose: In this work, coir fibre with varying fibre content was selected as reinforcements to prepare polymer-based matrices and the problem of reduced fibre-matrix interfacial bond strength has been diluted by chemical treatment of coir fibres with alkali solution. Design/methodology/approach: The effect of fibre loading, solution concentration and soaking time on the impact strength of the composites were analyzed using statistical techniques. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach was used to model and optimize the impact properties of coir-polyester composites. Findings: The impact strength of coir fibre reinforced polyester composite depends mainly on the fabrication parameters such as fibre-polyester content, soaking time, concentration of soaking agent and adhesive interaction between the fibre and reinforcement. Research limitations/implications: The mechanical properties of any coir polyester composite depend on the nature bonding between the fibre and reinforcement. The presence of cellulose, lignin on the periphery of any natural fibre reduces the bonding strength of the composite. This limitation is overcome by fibre treatment over sodium hydroxide to have better impact properties. Practical implications: Now days, natural fibre reinforced composites are capable of replacing automotive parts, subjected to static loads such as engine Guard, light doom, name plate, tool box and front panels etc. These materials can withstand any static load due to its higher strength to weight ratios. Originality/value: The effect of fibre loading, solution concentration and soaking time on the impact strength of the composites were analyzed using statistical techniques. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach was used to model and optimize the impact properties of coir-polyester composites. The impact strength of NaOH impregnated coir fibre reinforced polyester composites was evaluated.

Download Full-text

Experimental and numerical investigations into hydraulic behaviour of coir fibre drain

Canadian Geotechnical Journal ◽

10.1139/cgj-2016-0182 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 75-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Thanh Trung Nguyen ◽

Buddhima Indraratna

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Soft Clay ◽

Flow Characteristics ◽

Numerical Approach ◽

Natural Fibre ◽

Analytical Prediction ◽

Fibrous Materials ◽

Fibre Bundles ◽

Coir Fibre ◽

Hydraulic Behaviour

Over many decades, natural fibre bundles have been widely used for drainage and filtration applications because of their favourable hydraulic conductivity and abundance in Asian countries. In recent times, natural (biodegradable) coir and jute drains, which are environmentally friendly, have been considered in lieu of conventional geosynthetic wick drains for soft clay consolidation in Australian coastal regions. However, there is a lack of a computational framework to predict the hydraulic behaviour of fibre drains on the basis of micromechanical (fabric) characteristics. Employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete element method (DEM) to model the hydraulic behaviour of fibrous materials has shown promise in an earlier 2016 study by Nguyen and Indraratna, which considered an idealized parallel arrangement of fibres for simplicity. This paper aims to broaden the application of the coupled CFD–DEM technique to real fibres (coconut coir) considering both nontwisted and twisted fibre bundles that have more complex porous structure. The hydraulic conductivity determined from the numerical approach is validated with the experimental results, and also compared with the analytical prediction based on the conventional Kozeny–Carmen (KC) approach. The current study shows that the CFD–DEM technique can capture well the fluid flow characteristics of a nonuniform fibrous structure, including dense twisted coir bundles.

Download Full-text

Effect of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) Treatment on Coconut Coir Fibre and its Effectiveness on Enhancing Sound Absorption Properties

Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology ◽

10.47836/pjst.29.1.37 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ida Norfaslia Nasidi ◽

Lokman Hakim Ismail ◽

Emedya Murniwaty Samsudin

Keyword(s):

Sodium Hydroxide ◽

High Frequency ◽

Sound Absorption ◽

Fibre Diameter ◽

Fibre Surface ◽

Natural Fibre ◽

Constant Thickness ◽

Absorption Properties ◽

Coir Fibre ◽

Fibre Morphology

Natural fibre has been conventionally and widely utilised as a sound absorber in order to replace the traditional synthetic absorber materials. In this study, coir fibre (CF) was prepared as an acoustic absorber and subjected to an additional surface treatment by using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at various concentrations ranging from 1% to 8%. This was geared towards analysing the effect of alkalisation on the fibre morphology, diameter, and changes occurring in the CF functional groups, thus resulting in enhanced sound absorption properties. To this end, the fibre surface was analysed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the surface morphology of treated and untreated CF materials, whereas the implementation of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) allowed an analysis of CF characterisation. The absorber sample was fabricated at a constant thickness of 45mm and a density of 0.4g/cm3 density prior to testing for the sound absorption coefficient (SAC) by using an impedance tube. The morphology of CF revealed the treated fibres to be free of impurities including lignin and hemicellulose layer, which were removed from their surface. This finding was supported by the peak changes observed on the FTIR spectra. Furthermore, the fibre diameter was reduced as the concentrations of NaOH increased. The results conclusively indicated that treated CF at the concentrations of 7% and 8% NaOH gained the highest SAC values across the low and high-frequency ranges, yielding an α coefficient average of 0.9 and above.

Download Full-text

Sodium Bicarbonate Treatment on Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Coir Fibres

International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering ◽

10.15282/ijame.15.3.2018.12.0427 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 5562-5572 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

B. Bakri ◽

A. E. E. Putra ◽

A. A. Mochtar ◽

I. Renreng ◽

H. Arsyad

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Sodium Bicarbonate ◽

Sodium Bicarbonate Solution ◽

Fibre Surface ◽

Natural Fibre ◽

Morphological Properties ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Soaking Time ◽

Coir Fibre ◽

Suitable Treatment

Natural fibres as reinforcement of composite have been applied during the last decade. One of natural fibre has been used as reinforcement is coir fibre. As reinforcement of composite, such fibre needs treatment to improve compatibility with its matrix with suitable treatment. In this paper, surface treatment of such fibre was conducted using sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) solution with various densities and soaking time differences. Mechanical and morphological properties of coir fibre were investigated. Coir fibres were soaked in the 8 wt.%, 10 wt.%, and 12 wt.% sodium bicarbonate solution for 24 hours and 120 hours. After treatment, coir fibres were characterized with tensile testing, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The results suggested that mechanical properties of coir fibre after sodium bicarbonate solution changed for all densities and soaking time. The coir fibre treated in 12 wt.% sodium bicarbonate for soaking time 120 hours has highest tensile strength. The surface morphology of fibre was analyzed by using SEM. It showed micropores on the fibre surface which may influence the mechanical properties of coir fibre.

Download Full-text

Sound Absorption Characteristics of Composite Panel Made from Coconut Coir and Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches Fibre with Polyester

International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering ◽

10.15282/ijame.18.3.2021.14.0691 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 9022-9028

Author(s):

M. Rusli ◽

R.S. Nanda ◽

H. Dahlan ◽

M. Bur ◽

M. Okuma

Keyword(s):

Absorption Coefficient ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Sound Absorption ◽

Natural Fibre ◽

Composite Panel ◽

Frequency Range ◽

Empty Fruit Bunches ◽

Coir Fibre ◽

Coconut Coir ◽

Absorption Characteristics

The development of pure natural fibres as sound absorptive material remains overlooked due to their lack of mechanical and moist properties, low durability, and vulnerability to be damaged by the environment. Certain fibre treatments are needed to improve such disadvantages. This paper investigates sound absorption characteristics of coconut fibre (coir) and oil palm fibre made from empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fibre bonded by polyester that can protect them from the ambient environment in order to increase their durability. Two types of fibre-polyester composites have been tested. The first is the fibre-polyester composite (FPC) type, which is totally coated with polyester as the composite matrix. Another type is the fibre-polyester bonded composite (FPBC), in which the polyester is brushed into slice by a slice of the fibre layer in order to coat and bond the fibre, although porous among the fibre remains possible. A two-channel impedance tube is used in the measurement within 200 Hz to 3000 Hz of the frequency range. It is found that FPBC type panel has almost similar sound absorption characteristics to its purely natural fibre as it is able to maintain the panel porosity. The coconut coir fibre panel and its composite have a maximum absorption coefficient of almost 100% within the frequency range 1500-2000 Hz, considerably better than the OPEFB fibre, with only about 80% of the absorption coefficient. If the FPC layer exists, the sound absorption is reduced, and the frequency peaks are also shifted. Additions of the FPC panel layer thickness produced lower sound absorptions and shifted the peaks to the lower frequency range. The FPBC panel type is viable to protect the fibre from the environment without changing its sound absorption characteristics.

Download Full-text