Abstract :
Palm tree fronds (PTF) were utilized in building the prototype structure for a low-cost and energy-efficient house. Selected configurations of PTF embedded in concrete in molds 160 cm long, 15cm wide and 20 cm deep were cast, cured and then tested in flexure after 28 days. The load reached at first cracking was 12.5 kN, the maximum load each beam could support before failure was 23.5 kN and no slippage of PTF from the concrete was noticed. The thermal conductivity of PTF was also determined in this work; it was found that PTF has a thermal conductivity of 0.123 to 0.221 W/m °C. The prototype building unit, in the form of a vault structure, was tested by applying successive vertical and horizontal loads and measuring the resulting deformation. When the vault was unloaded all the displacements disappeared after 0.5 h, indicating that deformation was elastic. Hence, the prototype structure was built safely by utilizing the suitability of the membrane structure of PTF.
