Chapt 1 3 Manuscript New Final
Chapt 1 3 Manuscript New Final
Chapt 1 3 Manuscript New Final
by
Ylian M. Gaffud
Angelyn C. Milante
Wiljay Lord L. Song
Pauline Mhargel V. Sta Cruz
Mapúa University
May 2019
Abstract
The research analyzes the compressive strength of the pineapple leaf waste as fiber-
reinforced mortar. The previous studies revealed that the fiber-reinforced mortar is fast and
durable however, no studies have conducted for the effectiveness of the pineapple leaf waste as
fiber-reinforced mortar. The study aims to have the comparison of the compressive strength of
mortar that has pineapple fiber and without pineapple fiber, to utilize the pineapple leaves as
fibers and have a cheaper cost or reinforced mortar. The research method used is the ASTM
C109/C-109M-02 — Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement
Mortars.
INTRODUCTION
Pineapple is a popular fruit that contains fibers that are extracted from the leaves and
abundantly grows in the Philippines. It has been studied that the detailed study of the chemical,
mechanical, and physical properties of a pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) will bring out the logical and
reasonable utilization of PALF in different applications. From the socioeconomic perspective, the
potential replacement of the expensive and nonrenewable synthetic fibers can be the pineapple leaf
fiber that will serve as a new source of raw materials to the industries. Many scientists and
engineers are having great interest to find out new sources of raw materials that will be suitable to
meet the physical and mechanical properties of synthetic fibers. Various factors of selecting raw
materials are being cheap, has a high degree of flexibility, easy collection, eco-friendly, and its
availability (Asim, et al., 2015). The huge and wide range of availability of natural fibers in the
Philippines can help reduce the pressure on forest and agriculture. Not only pineapple leaf fiber
will help the nature to keep its ecological balance by the usage of diverse raw materials, it will also
help civil engineers for creating reinforced materials for construction. It can be useful to create a
fiber reinforced mortar by mixing the pineapple fibers into the mortar mixture which will prevent
The fiber-reinforced mortar is fast and durable. Its benefits in the building industry are
varied from renovation of damaged parts to the simple coating. According to (Montesano, 2015)
this type of mortar is ready for use, so it requires no special processing steps. It is applicable in the
construction of interior and exterior plaster and for the construction of load-bearing walls or
partitions that is very versatile and easy to use. Application of fibers in the mixture has the function
to counteract the hydraulic shrinkage, characteristic of the mortar during the solidifying process,
and avoiding the formation of cracks and fissures on the surface of the plaster applied. (Montesano,
2015)
The previous study did not address the effectiveness of pineapple leaf waste as fiber
reinforced mortar. The previous study did not take a comparison test between a controlled mortar
This study aims to compare the added percentage of compressive strength of a mortar
without pineapple fiber and with pineapple fiber. This study also seeks to aid the disposal of
pineapple leaf waste and make use of it as a fiber reinforcement in hydraulic cement mortar. This
study also aims to form a cheaper cost of reinforced mortar by using pineapple leaf wastes instead
The significance of this experimental research is to develop a more durable mortar paste to
be used by construction workers and civil engineers. The production of fiber reinforced cement
mortar will aid the disposal of pineapple leaf waste that can be found numerously within the metro
manila’s public markets. Lastly, this study will serve as future reference on the subject of
reinforced mortar.
This study is limited to test if fiber from pineapple leaf wastes can be an addictive material
in hydraulic cement mortar. The pineapple leaves that will be gathered are the ones who end up in
the trash only—specifically pineapple leaves with the measurement of 1 foot. These pineapple
leaves that will be gathered are going to be collected in public markets within Manila only. The
whole process of testing and experimentation will be done at the Mapua University, specifically
in room NW101 - Universal testing machine (UTM). The mixture to be analyzed in this research
shall adopt the ASTM C 109/C 109M-02 or the Standard Test Method for compressive strength of
Hydraulic cement Mortars. The compressive strength of the mortar will be analyzed after its seven-
day water curing. Only 5 grams of pineapple fibers will be added in the cement mortar mixture.
The cement mortar will be molded in a 2”x2” cube specimens. This experiment will be limited to
9 cube samples which will be divided into two batch: for 3-day curing and 7-day curing. This
research will also be limited to testing of compressive strength of the mortar and nothing more
kind of stresses. This research will not cover different types of agricultural products that can be
extracted as natural fibers, like kenaf, jute, sisal, banana stem, and others. The result of this study
will not reflect those of other courses that do not cover the field of civil engineering such as interior
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Mortar
Mortar mix is one of the most important building components that must be combined
thoroughly. It is the paste used to bond materials between bricks, concrete block, stone, and many
other masonry materials. Mortar is made from Portland Cement, sand, and water in having specific
Reinforced Mortar
materials. The cement-based materials perform well under compression, but its tensile strength
and post-cracking ductility in tension are poor. The fibers that are produced from steel, glass and
synthetic materials, have been successfully used to overcome such failure. It is studied that the
fiber-reinforced mortar has shown an increased post-cracking ductility and improved long-term
supportability due to the crack control provided by fibers. The waste disposal from food industry
is globally a major concern because of its environmental impacts. Because of this, the usage of
recycled materials in construction applications has been investigated. One of the investigations is
the incorporation of pig hair a waste produced by the food industry worldwide, in fiber-
reinforced mortars. This composite material is intended to reduce the environmental impacts by
It does not require the presence of specialized labor because it is easy to create. The presence
of fibers in the mixture has the function to counteract the hydraulic shrinkage. It will help the
mortar during the hardening process to be able to avoid the formation of cracks and fissures on the
Studied the influence of the size of coconut fibers on cement mortar in the mechanical
strength properties, using 0.3% fiber incorporation in relation to the cement mass. Mortars
reinforced with fiber incorporation of 12.5, 25, 37.5, 50, 62.5and 75 mm were tested at 7, 28 and
56 days of age. All mortars with incorporation promoted a decrease in mechanical strength
properties, the addition of a high volumetric fraction of fibers to the matrix gives a larger number
of defects due to an ineffective compaction of the fresh mixture. Such defects increase with
increasing the amount of fibers once the blend becomes more rigid and less workable. Even with
this negative result, the authors observed that the ductility of the mortars examined increased
considerably with the application of the fibers. Moreover, they come to a conclusion that the
workability is a key parameter in the study of the behavior of cement-based mortars and
Portland Cement
Portland cement is the basic ingredient of concrete. Concrete is formed when portland
cement creates a paste with water that is mixed with sand and rock to solidify. Cement is
manufactured through a closely controlled chemical mixture of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron
and other materials (Portland Cement Association, n.d.). Most used materials to manufacture
cement include limestone, shells, and chalk or marl mixed with shale, clay, slate, blast furnace
slag, silica sand, and iron ore. These materials, when placed at a high temperature heat, forms a
rock-like substance that is ground into the fine powder that we commonly think of as cement
Hydraulic Mortar
Hydraulic Cement is a product used to cover leaks in concrete and masonry structures. It
is a type of cement, similar to mortar, that sets extremely fast and solidifies after it has been mixed
with water. Hydraulic cement is commonly used in the construction industry sealing structures
under grade and in situations when the structures are affected or submerged in water (Rodriguez,
Fine Aggregate
Aggregates are inactive granular materials, for example, sand, rock, or pulverized stone
that, alongside water and Portland cement, are a basic fixing in cement. Fine totals for the most
part comprise of normal sand or pulverized stone with most particles going through a 3/8-inch
sifter. Those particles passing the 9.5 mm (3/8 in.) sifter, for the most part passing the 4.75 mm
(No. 4) strainer, and overwhelmingly held on the 75 µm (No. 200) strainer are called fine aggregate
METHODOLOGY
Abstract
For an environment to preserve its beauty, it is important to innovate the environment in a
resourceful way. One of the aspects would be starting at a bonding agent that helped bind bricks
and stones that can be useful for house construction. The researchers decided to study the Fiber
from Pineapple Leaf Waste as an additive in mortar to test its compressive strength compared to
a controlled mortar.
This chapter describes and discusses the methods the researchers would perform in
gathering the necessary data and the information that would be useful for the entire study. It cites
what would be the focus of the research. This chapter also explains the procedure of data collection
and instruments used. the type of research, research method, and the research location where the
study would be conducted with respect to the study's scope and delimitations. This chapter would
present how the data and information to address the research objectives and questions are collected,
presented and analyzed. The chapter includes the presentation and analysis of results as well as the
conclusion.
1. Introduction
Pineapple is a popular fruit that contains fibers that are extracted from the leaves and
abundantly grows in the Philippines. It has been studied that the detailed study of the chemical,
mechanical, and physical properties of a pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) will bring out the logical and
reasonable utilization of PALF in different applications. From the socioeconomic perspective, the
potential replacement of the expensive and nonrenewable synthetic fibers can be the pineapple leaf
fiber that will serve as a new source of raw materials to the industries. Many scientists and
engineers are having great interest to find out new sources of raw materials that will be suitable to
meet the physical and mechanical properties of synthetic fibers. Various factors of selecting raw
materials are being cheap, has a high degree of flexibility, easy collection, eco-friendly, and its
availability (Asim, et al., 2015). The huge and wide range of availability of natural fibers in the
Philippines can help reduce the pressure on forest and agriculture. Not only pineapple leaf fiber
will help the nature to keep its ecological balance by the usage of diverse raw materials, it will also
help civil engineers for creating reinforced materials for construction. It can be useful to create a
fiber reinforced mortar by mixing the pineapple fibers into the mortar mixture which will prevent
The fiber-reinforced mortar is fast and durable. Its benefits in the building industry are
varied from renovation of damaged parts to the simple coating. According to (Montesano, 2015)
this type of mortar is ready for us, so it requires no special processing steps. It is applicable in the
construction of interior and exterior plaster and for the construction of load-bearing walls or
partitions that is very versatile and easy to use. Application of fibers in the mixture has the function
to counteract the hydraulic shrinkage, characteristic of the mortar during the solidifying process,
and avoiding the formation of cracks and fissures on the surface of the plaster applied. (Montesano,
2015)
The previous study did not address the effectiveness of pineapple leaf waste as fiber
reinforced mortar. The previous study did not take a comparison test between a controlled mortar
This study aims to compare the added percentage of compressive strength of a mortar
without pineapple fiber and with pineapple fiber. This study also seeks to aid the disposal of
pineapple leaf waste and make use of it as a fiber reinforcement in hydraulic cement mortar. This
study also aims to form a cheaper cost of reinforced mortar by using pineapple leaf wastes instead
The significance of this experimental research is to develop a more durable mortar paste to
be used by construction workers and civil engineers. The production of fiber reinforced cement
mortar will aid the disposal of pineapple leaf waste that can be found numerously within the metro
manila’s public markets. Lastly, this study will serve as future reference on the subject of
reinforced mortar.
This study is limited to test if fiber from pineapple leaf wastes can be an addictive material
in hydraulic cement mortar. The pineapple leaves that will be gathered are the ones who end up in
the trash only—specifically pineapple leaves with the measurement of 1 foot. These pineapple
leaves that will be gathered are going to be collected in public markets within Manila only. The
whole process of testing and experimentation will be done at the Mapua University, specifically
in room NW101 - Universal testing machine (UTM). The mixture to be analyzed in this research
shall adopt the ASTM C 109/C 109M-02 or the Standard Test Method for compressive strength of
Hydraulic cement Mortars. The compressive strength of the mortar will be analyzed after its seven-
day water curing. Only 5 grams of pineapple fibers will be added in the cement mortar mixture.
The cement mortar will be molded in a 2”x2” cube specimens. This experiment will be limited to
9 cube samples which will be divided into two batch: for 3-day curing and 7-day curing. This
research will also be limited to testing of compressive strength of the mortar and nothing more
kind of stresses. This research will not cover different types of agricultural products that can be
extracted as natural fibers, like kenaf, jute, sisal, banana stem, and others. The result of this study
will not reflect those of other courses that do not cover the field of civil engineering such as interior
2. Methodology
This study uses a Quantitative Research Design. The pineapple fiber is extracted from the
pineapple leaves that are collected in public markets. The gathering of data is based on the
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) -- The international standards organization
who develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials,
products, systems, and services. Specifically, the ASTM that the researchers would use is the
ASTM C109 – Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars
Based on the system flow diagram (see figure 1.), the experiment will start with the process
of collecting the pineapple fiber waste from public markets in metro manila followed by the
process of extraction which includes soaking the pineapple leaves into water for 1 week letting it
absorb enough water to be soft for the next procedure which is the scraping. The pineapple leaves
will be scraped to extract the fibers. After the extraction of the fibers from the pineapple leaves,
the researchers would condition the fibers that are extracted from the leaves to prepare it to be
added in the mortar mixture. When the fiber is now ready, the materials for the concrete mixture
shall be prepared by the researchers. Using the ASTM C 109, the procedure of the Standard Test
Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars shall be executed thoroughly by
the researchers. The researchers shall test if the necessary apparatus is working properly, if the
chemicals needed are all complete, and if the attire and guidelines in conducting an experiment are
well followed.
After the testing has been made, the researchers will now tabulate and analyze the data
gathered from the experiment; Comparison of the compressive strength of the 2 mixture will now
The theoretical framework for this study, as shown in Figure 2, is composed of five steps.
These steps begin with the gathered data which are being processed afterward. After processing
the data, reassessment of the data shall commence producing a response. This response should lead
to the outcome of this study. In the case that further questions arise due to the outcome, the outcome
shall undergo either one of the four steps - the gathered data, the process, the reassessment, and
the response - stated in this framework. The structure of the theoretical framework is as such
because of the trial-and-error nature of the gathered data. With that being stated, the framework
allows the data to be reprocessed to accurately reassess the data's components and parameters. This
enables comparison between correction factors. Moreover, this framework can be used
The conceptual framework for this study as shown in Figure 3, provides an outline of steps
and actions or procedures to be taken in this research. This framework will show us the detailed
steps and organized ideas that will cause us to achieve our objectives in this study. The conceptual
framework is connected to this study's purpose and will give a wider perspective and a deeper
understanding of the thesis. Thus, this will help not just the researchers but also the readers of this
thesis to analyze the research. This will also serve as a guide to the researchers to assure that they
3. Materials
Preparation of Materials
The materials for the experiments - pineapple leaves and pineapple fibers are gathered.
After the procedures indicated below are done, the testing of compressive strength of the mortar
A. Pineapple Leaves
The pineapple leaves are collected by the researchers to extract its fibers. The pineapple
B. Pineapple Fiber
After gathering the pineapple fibers, the researchers are conditioning the mixture and
submerging the mixtures in a wet environment then rinsing it in running water. After rinsing it, the
researchers are designated to proceed in extracting the fiber then drying the fibers and preparing it
for mixing.
C. Cement
The researchers will make hydraulic cement mortar specimen using “2 x 2” molds. The
quantity of cement to be used will be 1000 grams, 500 grams for the experimental specimen and
500 grams for the controlled specimen. This will allow the researchers to have a total of 6
specimens in each mixture (controlled and experimental) which will be divided into two batch for
two types of curing namely: 3 days and 7 days. These specimens are subjected to undergo the
ASTM C 109 - Standard test method for compressive strength of hydraulic cement mortars.
D. Sand
The quantity of sand to be used will be 1375 grams per mixture. This will allow the
researchers to have a total of 6 specimens per mixture which will be divided into two batch for two
types of curing namely: 3 days and 7 days. These specimens are subjected to undergo the ASTM
C 109 - Standard test method for compressive strength of hydraulic cement mortars.
4. Procedure
This process is done by soaking the leaves of the pineapple into the water in a certain period
such as a week. The next process is the process of using a plate or whittle with no sharp knife to
remove the skin leaves still attached to the fiber surface. After that, the fiber is washed with water
This test method’s coverage is determining the compressive strength of hydraulic cement
The mortar used is composed of 1-part cement mixed with 2.75 parts of sand proportioned
by mass. Portland or air-entraining Portland cements are mixed at specified water/cement ratios.
Water content for other cements is that enough to obtain a flow of 110 ± 5 in 25 drops of the flow
table. Two-inch or [50-mm] test cubes are compressed by tamping in two layers. The cubes are
cured one day after placing it in the molds and stripped and submerged in lime water until tested.
This test method provides a means of determining the compressive strength of hydraulic
cement and other mortars and the possible results may be used to determine compliance with
specifications, this test method is referenced by numerous other specifications and test methods.
Awareness must be exercised in using the outcomes of this test method to predict the strength of
concrete.
The amount of the materials for standard mortar shall be in composition of 1-part cement
to 2.75 parts of graded standard sand by weight. Usage of water shall be in ratio of 0.485 for all
Portland cements and 0.460 for all air-entraining Portland cements. The amount of mixing water
for other than Portland and air-entraining cements shall be such as to produce a flow of 110 ± 5 as
determined in accordance with 10.3 and it shall be shown as weight percent of cement.
Apply a thin clothing of release agent to the interior faces of the mold and non-absorptive
base plates. Apply oils and greases using an impregnated cloth or other applicable means. Wipe
the mold faces and the base plate using any cloth as necessary to remove any excess release agent
and to achieve a thin, even coating on the interior surfaces. When using an aerosol lubricant, spray
the release agent directly onto the mold faces and base plate from a distance of 6 to 8 in. or [150
to 200 mm] to reach complete average. When done spraying, wipe the surface using a cloth as
necessary to separate any excess aerosol lubricant. The remaining part of coating should be just
Mechanically mix in accordance with the procedure given in Practice C305. Begin
molding the test subjects not more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds after completion of the original
mixing of the mortar batch. Put a layer of mortar about 1 inch (estimated one half of the depth of
the mold) in all the cube compartments. Tamp the mortar in each cube compartment 32 time in
about 10 seconds in 4 rounds, the tamping pressure shall be just enough to ensure uniform filling
of the molds. When the tamping of the first layer in all of the cube compartments is done, next
thing to do is fill the compartments with the remaining mortar and then tamp as specified for the
first layer. During tamping of the second layer, bring in the mortar forced out onto the tops of the
molds after each round of tamping by means of gloved fingers and the tamper upon completion of
Storage of Test Subjects – Promptly, upon completion of molding, put the test subjects in
the moist closet or moist room. Keep all test subjects, promptly after molding, in the molds on the
base plates in the moist closet or moist room from 20 to 72 h with their upper surfaces exposed to
the moist air but protected from dripping water. If the subjects are separated from the molds before
24 h, keep them on the shelves of the moist closet or moist room until they are 24-h old, and then
immerse the subjects, except those for the 24-h test, in soaked lime water in storage tanks
constructed of noncorroding materials. Keep the storage water clean by changing regularly as
required.
Test the subjects immediately after their removal from the moist closet in the case of 24-h
subjects, and from storage water in the case of all other test subjects. All test subjects for a given
test age shall be broken within the permissible tolerance prescribed as follows:
If there are more than one test subject at a time is removed from the moist closet for the
24-h tests, keep these test subjects covered using a damp cloth until time of testing. Then if more
than one test subject is removed at a time, from the storage water testing, keep these test subjects
in water at a temperature of 73.5± 3.5 ºF or [23 ± 2ºC] and of enough depth to completely submerge
Apply the load to specimen faces that were in contact with the true plane surfaces of the
mold. Gently place the test subject in the testing apparatus below the center of the upper bearing
block. Prior to the testing of each cube, it shall be ascertained that spherically seated block is free
to tilt. Do not use cushioning or bedding materials. Bring the spherically seated block into uniform
contact with the surface of the subject. Put the load rate at a relative rate of movement between the
upper and lower platens corresponding to a loading on the specimen with the range of 200 to 400
lbs/s [900 to 1800 N/s]. Obtain this designated rate of movement of the platen during the first half
of the anticipated maximum load and make no adjustment in the rate of movement of the platen in
the latter half of the loading especially while the cube is yielding before failure.
Record the total maximum load indicated by the testing apparatus, and compute the
𝑓𝑚 = 𝑃/𝐴
where:
𝑓𝑚 = compressive strength in psi or [MPa],
𝑃 = total maximum load in lbf or [N], and
𝐴 = area of loaded surface in2 or [mm2 ].
machine. Proper procedures have been followed in the data collection phase. It was analyzed and
was briefly summarized and tabulated to supplement the objectives and research questions of the
study.
Table 1. Mortar reinforced with pineapple leaf fiber cured for three days
The data shown in table 1 are all of the samples of mortar reinforced with pineapple leaf
fiber that was cured for 3 days with its maximum stress and maximum force. While table 2 shows
the maximum stress and force of a controlled mortar cured for 3 days.
Based on the results of the test apparatus, the reinforced mortar with the label of M3-A has
reached its maximum stress of 22.15 MPa with a maximum force of 55.3688 or 55.37 kN while
the controlled mortar (M3-A) reached its maximum stress at 5.14 MPa with a maximum force of
12.8562 or 12.86 kN. The data showed that the mortar with pineapple fiber reached its maximum
stress and force higher than the controlled mortar. The difference between the maximum stress of
a reinforced mortar and a controlled mortar is 17.01 MPa while the difference between the
The next specimen, M3-B has reached its maximum stress of 19.59 MPa with a maximum
force of 48.9688 or 48.97 kN while the controlled mortar (M3-B) reached its maximum stress at
7.31 MPa with a maximum force of 18.2813 or 18.28 kN. The data showed that the mortar with
pineapple fiber reached its maximum stress and force higher than the controlled mortar. The
difference between the maximum stress of a reinforced mortar and a controlled mortar is 12.28
MPa while the difference between the maximum force of a reinforced mortar and controlled mortar
is 30.6875 kN.
The next specimen, M3-C has reached its maximum stress of 16.25 MPa with a maximum
force of 40.6125 or 40.61 kN while the controlled mortar (M3-C) reached its maximum stress at
7.31 MPa with a maximum force of 18.2750 or 18.28 kN. The data showed that the mortar with
pineapple fiber reached its maximum stress and force higher than the controlled mortar. The
difference between the maximum stress of a reinforced mortar and a controlled mortar is 8.94 MPa
while the difference between the maximum force of a reinforced mortar and controlled mortar is
22.3375 kN.
The data shown in table 3 are all the samples of mortar reinforced with pineapple leaf fiber
that was cured for 7 days with its maximum stress and maximum force. While table 4 shows the
maximum stress and force of a controlled mortar cured for 7 days as well.
Based on the results of the test apparatus, the reinforced mortar with the label of M7-A has
reached its maximum stress of 16.70 MPa with a maximum force of 41.7438 or 41.74 kN while
the controlled mortar (M7-A) reached its maximum stress at 11.16 MPa with a maximum force of
27.9000 or 27.9 kN. The data showed that the mortar with pineapple fiber reached its maximum
stress and force higher than the controlled mortar. The difference between the maximum stress of
a reinforced mortar and a controlled mortar is 5.54 MPa while the difference between the
The next specimen, M7-B has reached its maximum stress of 17.69 MPa with a maximum
force of 44.2313 or 44.23 kN while the controlled mortar (M7-B) reached its maximum stress at
8.71 MPa with a maximum force of 21.7750 or 21.78 kN. The difference between the maximum
stress of a reinforced mortar and a controlled mortar is 8.98 MPa while the difference between the
The next specimen, M7-C has reached its maximum stress of 24.19 MPa with a maximum
force of 60.4750 or 60.48 kN while the controlled mortar (M7-C) reached its maximum stress at
9.93 MPa with a maximum force of 24.8250 or 24.83 kN. The difference between the maximum
stress of a reinforced mortar and a controlled mortar is 14.26 MPa while the difference between
the maximum force of a reinforced mortar and controlled mortar is 35.65 kN.
5. Conclusion
The data above show the results of the compressive strength test done using the
UTM to both controlled (no additives) and pineapple fiber reinforced mortar.
Through these data we have proven that a mortal reinforced with pineapple leaf fiber can
hold a compressive force up to 55.368 kN (M3-A) which will give a compressive strength of
22.15 MPa that surpasses the 18.2813kN (M3-B) with 7.31MPa compressive strength of a
controlled mortar both cured for 3 days. Thus, the mortar reinforced with pineapple leaf fiber can
hold up to 3x of the force a controlled mortar can. Having said that, the researchers may
conclude that the pineapple leaf fiber has contributed approximately 60% to the compressive
With the data from the 7-day curing, the maximum compressive force a pineapple leaf
fiber reinforced mortal can hold is 60.4750 kN (M7-C) that will give a compressive strength of
24.19 MPa this is twice the data gathered from the controlled mortar which can only hold a
giving us a result of approximately 50% higher compressive strength with the use of the