Equipment for Testing the Tensile Strength of Natural Fibers: Design and Implementation

Abstract The use of fibers, especially natural as construction materials has begun to develop. Natural fibers are also used for soil stabilization, where there two mechanisms increasing strength: tensile strength and fiber-soil friction. purpose this research is design build simple, inexpensive tools that can be test the a fiber. tool consists three main parts, namely pull tool, loadcell, display, supporting component, computer. Prior use, calibrations were performed with respect load cell accuracy vertical deformation tool. equipment was directly measure one from oil palm empty fruit bunches. relationship between stress strain, fiber diameter, discussed compared behaviors reported existing literature. bunches found 107 MPa on average, strain at break 6%. Fiber behavior, independent discovered include elastic plastic regions in stress-strain relationship.