Experimental Investigation of the Influence of
Cement and Coconut Coir on the Compressive
Strength of Rammed Earth
S.Akbar Bhasha*, Assistant professor (SG), Saurav Sadhukhan **, Vishnu Priya ST **, Shaik Noor Ahammad**, Shaik
Mohammed Mansoor**
* Assistant Professor (SG), B.S Abdur Rahman Crescent University
** Final year students of B.Tech Civil Engineering, B.S Abdur Rahman Crescent University
Abstract—the need for Sustainability in construction
industry has led to revival of certain old technologies
and techniques of constructing using earth as a
sustainable building material with modern elements
infused in them. One such alternative technology is
rammed earth with cement as a stabilizing agent and
natural fiber as physical binding agent. This has
several advantages over conventional fired clay or
concrete masonry like Low embodied energy, less
impact on natural resources, good acoustic quality,
High thermal mass, ability to "breath", suited to a
wide range of soils, easy to manufacture and work on,
flexible in forms, surface finishes & color, good
insulation properties, blocking unwanted
electromagnetic radiation. The use of optimal amount
of cement and fiber followed by ramming of the soil
offers a sustainable building material. Addition of
natural fibers such as coconut coir improves the
strength of the rammed earth by giving a better
bonding between the clay and the sand. This paper
discusses the influence of optimum fiber content on
the compressive strength of rammed earthen
structure
Index Terms — cement, fiber, optimum, rammed earth,
sustainability.
I. INTRODUCTION
Soil has been used as a building material in the past. The advent
of concrete reduced the use of soil in construction. Since it has
been discovered that concrete causes environmental degradation
as recycling it is not possible, there has been an extensive
research for an alternative building material. Soil, being the
natural composition of the earth’s surface is a much more eco-
friendly alternative to concrete. Cement is the most powerful
binding agent that is currently used in the construction industry
but its production process pollutes the surrounding air to an
alarming extent by increasing the amount of suspended
particulate matter. The clay content in the soil itself acts as a
good binding agent for its components. Addition of natural
fibers such as coconut coir increases the stability of the earthen
structure by acting as stabilizer and a binding material. When an
optimum percentage of cement is added to the clay mix, the
strength is found to increase manifolds. Structures made from
rammed earth are found to have lower internal temperature than
concrete structures.
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF RAMMED EARTH
Rammed earth is one of the procedures of constructing an
earthen structure. The other methods available are compressed
earthen blocks and adobe. There are various initial tests that
must be performed on the soil sample to ascertain the proper
mix ratio with adequate amount of clay [13]. The tests that need
to be performed are
 Color test – from the color of the mix, the
composition and content of organic material can be
inferred. Red color ranging to deep brown indicated
high iron content which is good for building. A dull
brown texture indicates excessive clay in the mix. A
greenish coloration indicates presence of organic
matter which should be avoided to prevent decaying
at a later stage.
 Touch and smell test – soil that feels sticky in the
wet condition indicated high clay content where as a
course feeling in the wet condition indicates high
sand content. Soil sample that gives off a musty
smell indicates presence of organic matter.
 Biscuit test – taking a small quantity of the mix and
placing in a mould of approximately 3 centimeter
diameter and 1 centimeter depth makes it in the
shape of a biscuit. Allowing it to dry and breaking
the dry sample shows the nature of the mix.
Formation of cracks during the drying stage
indicates high clay content. After breaking the
sample, complete crumbling and conversion to
powder indicates high sand content. A good mix
shouldn’t have cracks in the drying stage and should
break into two solid parts, much like a biscuit.
 Cigar test – rolling a smooth paste made from the
soil mix between two hands and making it in the
shape of a cigar and rolling it on a flat surface helps
determine the length at which it breaks. Length
below 5 centimeters indicated a high sand content
and a length above 10 centimeters indicates high
clay content. A length between 5 and 10 centimeters
indicates a good mix.
 Adhesion test – observing the amount of soil that
sticks on a knife after inserting it into the rammed
structure helps to identify the amount of clay and silt
 present in the mix. Small portions of soil sticking on IV. COMBINED INFLUENCE OF FIBER AND
the knife indicate high silt content where as a large CEMENT ON RAMMED EARTH
amount of soil sticking to the knife indicates high
clay content [2]. To avoid complete collapse of structure after reaching maximum
 Sedimentation test – mixing 250grams of the soil load carrying capacity, fibers such as coconut coir are added to
mix with 750 milliliters of water and letting it settle the mix. It is important to determine the optimum percentage of
for 30 minutes shows us the approximate content of fiber to be added to the mix to achieve maximum compressive
each component in the mix. strength and stability [12]. Experimental study was performed
on various percentage of coconut fiber added to the soil mix
The recommended mix ratio of soil is mentioned in Table.1. containing the optimum cement percentage [7,11]. The fiber
needs to be cut into an average length of 5 centimeters. The
Clay Silt Sand Gravel results obtained from the compression test are mention in
35% 20% 30% 15% Table.3.
Table.1. Composition of soil mix for rammed earth.
Percentage of 1stday(MPa) 3rdday(MPa) 7thday(MPa)
III. EFFECT OF CEMENT ON RAMMED EARTH coconut coir
0% 3.5 5.47 7.83
Cement is a chemical binder that holds the various components 0.5% 3.1 4.23 5.1
of concrete such as coarse aggregate and fine aggregate together 1% 3.37 4.97 5.7
[1,3]. Addition of ordinary Portland cement 53grade in various 1.5% 1.1 2.0 2.97
percentages was casted. Air curing was done for the samples. Table.3. Ultimate strength at failure of samples with various
Compression test was conducted on the first day, third day and coconut coir percentages.
the seventh day. The results obtained from the compression test
are mention in Table.2. From Table.3 it can be seen that 1% by weight of coconut fiber
added to the mix attains high strength and also has good
Percentage 1stday(MPa) 3rdday(MPa) 7thday(MPa) resistance after formation of cracks.
of cement
0% 0.47 0.63 2.37
strength in MPa

5% 1.77 2.3 3.33 Strength on Seventh Day

6% 2.67 3.9 4.97 10
7% 2.13 3.53 5.07 8
8% 3.5 5.47 7.83 6
9% 2.9 5.03 6.83
4
10% 2.6 4.47 6.4
2
Table.2. Ultimate strength at failure of samples with various
0
cement percentages. 0.00% 0.50% 1.00% 1.50%

From the values obtained from the compression test, it can be coconut coir percentage
inferred that the highest strength is obtained after 7 days of air Fig.1. Comparison of ultimate strength at failure on seventh day
curing. It is also seen that 8% cement content can withstand the with various coconut coir percentage
maximum load before failure. Hence, 8% of cement is the
optimum amount of cement to be added [9].
strength in MPa

Strength on Seventh Day

10
8
6
4
2
0
0% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10%

cement percentage
Fig.1. Comparison of ultimate strength at failure on seventh day
with various cement percentage

It can be seen from Fig.1 that the soil sample with 8% of cement
obtains highest strength. The sample destabilizes after the
formation of cracks and may crumble on further application of
load. To avoid this collapse after crack formation, fibers may be
added.

Fig.3. Compression testing of sample containing 1% coconut

fiber.

Fig.
4. Sample after compression testing
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Soil mixed according to the proportioned mentioned in table.1
provides good resistance to compression. Addition of 8% of
cement to the mix increases the compressive strength of the mix.
The resistance to horizontal forces such as seismic force is
insufficient even after addition of cement to the mix [5].
Addition of fibers such as coconut fibers improves the stability
of the sample even after formation of first crack, preventing the
structure from crumbling [4]. As it can be seen in Fig.4, the
sample does not crumble or fall apart even after formation of
cracks and attaining final strength. Addition of excessive fiber
leads to splitting of the sample at a low strength itself and leads
to failure in layers.
VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Adoption of this methodology of construction is ideal for single
storey or double storey buildings. From the above experimental
study, it is inferred that 8% of cement content and 1% of
coconut coir is optimal. It is observed that the samples prepared
require only air curing. The ultimate strength is attained in 7
days itself unlike concrete that requires 28 days [6]. The optimal
water content is found to be 95ml per kg mix. This has been
arrived using trial and error method. It has been observed that
adding higher water content provides a better surface finish but
a lower strength when compared the optimum water content
[10]. Both cement and coconut coir exhibits binding as well
stabilizing characteristics.
Since the foundation has lateral constraints from the back fill, it
does not need the addition of fiber. Addition of 8% cement to
the mix ratio given in Table.1 is sufficient for the foundation.
The walls on the other hand are exposed to loads in the
horizontal direction and thus require fiber as well. Good
compaction is required in order to attain the ultimate
compressive strength and a smooth finish. It is recommended to
compress the sample into half of its original volume. This
method is very economical as it uses locally available soil and it
is eco-friendly as well as it does not pollute the environment
during the construction phase or after its demolition [8].
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