STUDIES ON METAKAOLIN BASED BANANA FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE

This paper investigates the effect of using high reactivity metakaolin on the properties of Banana fiber reinforced concrete. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and Impact resistance test were investigated. HRM content used in this study was 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% with 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% of Banana fibers by volume of concrete. The results indicated that the reference reinforced concrete with 2% Banana fibers by volume showed a significant increase in Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and impact resistance, the percentage increase after 28-day relative to reference concrete were 29.6% , 30.7% and 179% respectively. The results also showed that the incorporation of 15% HRM as a partial replacement by weight of cement with 0.5% Banana fibers showed considerable improvement, the percentage increase in compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength and 2% of Banana fibre showed improvement of Impact resistance test after 28-day compared to reference concrete were 12.3% , 46.8% , and 46.5% respectively .