Appropriate software model for evaluating the effect of untreated and treated sisal fibre with different gauge length and strain rates for geotextile applications

Abstract

Geotextiles are commonly used as reinforcement in building, engineering and road laying applications. The sisal fibre is one of the natural fibres which is used to reinforce soil and prevent damage. This sisal fibre is specifically helpful to fill gaps between roads to improve soil structure, and prevent soil erosion but allows the water to drain off. This paper is concerned with the study of the effect of gauge length on the strength and elongation of sisal fibres in untreated and treated states with sodium hydroxide at different concentrations and duration of treatment. The reason for applying sodium hydroxide treatment on sisal fibre is to remove the impurities from it and to improve the inter fibre adhesion with resin for producing a composite. The effective reinforcement of composites with plant fibres depends on the moisture content and the fibre matrix interfacial adhesion. Treatment with alkali improves the performance of fibres when they are used as composites. Also, the effect of strain rate on the strength and elongation of sisal in untreated and treated states has been investigated. The Weibull modelling software model has been used in many studies to quantify the degree of variability in the fibres. This paper deals with the application of an appropriate software model such as the Weibull distribution model for quantifying the variability in strength and elongation at different gauge lengths varied from 10 mm to 100 mm and also varied the strain rate from 10 mm/min to 500 mm/min. In addition to the Weibull distribution model, air plasma treatment and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) analysis on sisal fibre were also carried out in this paper. The result shows that the sisal fibre is more suitable for geotextile applications.