Evaluation of the strength of concrete slabs using bamboo-mesh in place of iron rod mesh with palm-kernel shells as additives

Abstract

Bamboo was used in the form of a mesh and placed within the concrete slab mold. The cement, sand and stone mixture were varied with the addition of palm kernel shells. Usually, the main mixtures for the production of concrete slabs are cement, sand, stones and water with iron rod mesh in-between the mixture. Due to high production cost, it was suggested that, if some waste material, in this case palm-kernel shell, is used to argument or supplement the amount of stones used and bamboo-mesh used to replace the costly iron rods, production cost as well as environmental issues would be addressed. The concrete slabs produced with this new mixture gave the compressive strength, after 28days of curing an average compressive strength of 60.0 KN/m 2. This value fell within the range of type A, B and C blocks with respective values of 4.0 KN/M 2,3.0 KN/M 2 and 2.5 KN/M 2