1. Research Scholar, Division of Civil Engineering, Cochin Univ. of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala 682022, India.
2. Professor, Division of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Cochin Univ. of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala 682022, India (corresponding author).
3. Formerly, Director, National Coir Research and Management Institute (NCRMI), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695043, India; Professor, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, College of Agriculture, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695522, India.