V2I7P10

Cross Examination of the Flexural Features of a Light-Weight Reinforced Slab Component

Uzoukwu C.S.^1*, Uche-Ukah  I. U.¹, Ikpa P. N.¹, Iroegbu R. U.¹, Okoro M. U.¹, Onuoha O. I.¹, Egbufor U. C.¹, Duke B. I.¹, Obumseli P. C.¹, Ezenkwa C. S.²

Abstract

The study is centered on the determination of flexural strength and deflection of a high profile lightweight reinforced composite slab element. The work was done using materials like ordinary limestone cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, polystyrene beads, profile sheet, agro fibre, 10mm reinforcement bars, binding wire and water. Manual mixing operation was adopted, and all polystyrene concrete ingredients were batched by weight, after which a total of seventy-two (72) cubes were produced. The size of each was 150mm x 150mm x 150mm and 6 mix ratios of water-cement ratio: cement: sand: polystyrene beads, with different ranges, for compressive strength test were prepared. 16 slabs of size 1200mm x 558mm x 125mm were cast for flexural strength of slab. Twelve out of the  total slabs, were produced from profile sheet- polystyrene fibre reinforced composite with mix ratio 0.45:1:3:3 and 6  different fibre content in the mixture, 2 were produced from conventional composite  having normal concrete ingredients (coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, cement and water) with 10mm rebar, profile sheet  and mix ratio of 0.45:1:2:4. The remaining 2 slabs were made from plain polystyrene fibre reinforced slab with mix ratio of 0.45:1:3:3 and 0.31% Agro fibre content in the mixture, without profile sheet. The 28th day, average compressive strength for the six (6) mix ratios used were 4.81MPa, 5.3MPa, 6.2MPa, 6.4MPa 4.33MPa, and3.08MPa respectively. The average static modulus of elasticity for mix ratios were 7.42GPa, 7.49GPa, 7.71GPa, 7.71GPa, 6.03GPa, and 3.66GPa respectively. The average flexural strength of profile sheet-polystyrene fibre reinforced composite slab for different fibre content in the mixture were 2.1MPa, 2.45MPa, 3.3MPa, 3.9MPa, 3.4MPa, and 2.85MPa respectively. It was observed that slab 0.21%  agro fibre content in the mixture has the maximum deflection while the minimum deflection took place in the slab with 0.31% agro fibre content in the mixture. The flexural strength of profile sheet-polystyrene fibre reinforced composite slab was within limit for light structural slab.

Keywords:

Polystyrene fibre concrete, slab, profile sheet, polystyrene beads, agro fibre, composite, compressive strength, flexural strength, static modulus of elasticity and deflection