ALTERNATIVE REINFORCING MATERIALS FOR LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.

Research effort is now aimed at developing various types of cement concrete reinforced with locally available natural fibres, or with relatively cheap man-made fibres such as polypropylene. This paper reports on the current situation relating to research, development and application of natural and man-made fibres as reinforcement in cement concrete. The potentials of bamboo and polypropylene have been emphasized, for it is considered that bamboo, which grows naturally and abundantly in many less developed countries, can be used successfully as reinforcement in small-scale structures; and polypropylene, which is generally cheaper than steel bars, has much to recommend itself as a suitable reinforcement.