Performance Analysis of Banana Fibre on Soil-Cement-Brick

Abstract

In this project, soil-cement bricks were created by mixing local soil with cement and various amounts of banana fiber. The banana fibers were cleaned, dried, and cut into small pieces before being added to the mixture. Bricks were made both with and without banana fiber to compare their characteristics. After being allowed to cure for a specific period, the bricks were tested for strength, water absorption, and resistance to different conditions, following standard testing methods. The results showed that adding banana fiber increases the strength of soil-cement bricks, but only up to a certain level. Bricks with banana fiber were found to be less prone to cracking and more flexible than regular soil-cement bricks. The study suggests that banana fiber can be a good natural material to improve the strength of bricks, making construction more sustainable and cost-effective.

Introduction

The construction industry relies heavily on materials like clay bricks and concrete blocks, which consume large amounts of natural resources and energy. This creates environmental concerns and increases the need for sustainable and affordable building materials. Soil-cement bricks are a good alternative because they are inexpensive, easy to produce, and environmentally friendly. However, these bricks can be brittle and may crack easily, reducing their durability.

To improve their performance, banana fiber, a natural fiber obtained from banana plant stems (usually agricultural waste), can be added to soil-cement bricks. Banana fiber is strong, flexible, biodegradable, and easily available. When mixed into bricks, it helps reduce shrinkage cracks, improves tensile and bending strength, and makes the bricks more durable. Using such natural fibers also helps recycle agricultural waste and promotes sustainable construction, especially for rural housing.

The study reviews previous research showing that natural fibers like banana, coconut, jute, sisal, and bamboo fibers can strengthen construction materials. However, using too much fiber may reduce brick strength and make mixing difficult.

The main objectives of the study were to:

• Use banana fiber as reinforcement in soil-cement bricks

• Prepare bricks with different fiber percentages

• Compare strength and water absorption of bricks with and without fiber

• Determine the optimum fiber content

• Test strength after 7, 14, and 28 days of curing

The methodology involved collecting soil, cement, banana fiber, and water; preparing fibers (20–30 mm length); performing sieve analysis on soil; mixing materials in specific proportions; casting bricks using molds; and curing them for different periods. Tests such as water absorption and compressive strength were conducted to evaluate durability and load-bearing capacity.

Results showed that adding banana fiber improved the performance of soil-cement bricks up to an optimal percentage. Proper fiber content increased compressive strength and controlled cracking, while maintaining acceptable water absorption levels.

Conclusion

The incorporation of banana fibre improves the mechanical behaviour of soil-cement bricks. 2) Banana fibre, being a natural and locally available material, reduces construction cost. 3) Utilize banana farming waste. 4) From the experimental study on the analysis of performance of banana fiber on soil cement bricks, it is concluded that the addition of banana fiber improves the overall performanceof soil cement bricks when used in optimum quantity.

References

[1] IS 1725-1982. [2] IS 3495. [3] IS 1077. [4] Building material – S.K. Duggal. https://books.google.com/books/about/Building_Materials.html?id=gVV7EAAAQBAJ https://books.google.com /books/about/Building_ Materials.html?id=gVV7EAAAQBAJ [5] Building Construction- B.C. Punmia / Arora and Bindra. https://books.google.com/books/about/Building_Construction.html?id=H106EAAAQBAJ

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Prof. Kavade A. V., Mr. Bhosale S. S., Mr. Kale V. S., Mr. Kumbhar M. K., Mr. Mule V. R.. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.