Tersedianya serabut kelapa di Indonesia dalam jumlah yang besar dapatdimanfaatkan pada dunia konstruksi, salah satunya adalah batu bata sebagaimaterial bangunan yang dapat di fungsikan secara struktur maupun non struktur.Berdasarkan hal tersebut, dilakukan penelitian mengkaji sifat fisik dan mekanikbatu bata tidak dibakar yang dicampur serabut kelapa. Sifat mekanik yang diujiantara lain adalah kuat tekan dan kuat lentur, kemudian sifat fisik yang diujiantara lain adalah susut, absorbsi, densitas, dan kadar air. Campuran bata adalahtanah lempung, pasir, semen, air, dan serabut kelapa. Serabut kelapa yangdigunakan berukuran panjang 4 cm dan 2,5 cm, masing-masing panjang memilikipersentase serabut 2%, 4%, dan 6% dari massa semen. Kondisi penyimpanan batadengan panjang serabut 4 cm adalah di dalam ruang, sementara bata denganpanjang serabut 2,5 cm adalah di ruang terbuka. Pengunaan serabut kelapa,menunjukan bahwa bata dengan serabut kelapa lebih baik dibandingkan denganbata tanpa serabut kelapa. Hasil pengujian menunjukan bahwa bata denganpanjang serabut 4 cm secara keseluruhan lebih baik dibandingkan bata denganpanjang serabut 2,5 cm. Persentase serabut kelapa paling optimal adalah 2%, baikpada bata dengan panjang serabut 4 cm maupun 2,5 cm. In Indonesia coconut fibers (coir) are available in large numbers. In theconstruction world, one kind of building materials that benefit of this situation isbrick. The bricks can be used as structural and non structural members. Thisstudy was conducted in order to assess the physical and mechanical properties ofunfired bricks added by coconut fibers (coir). Mechanical properties wereobtained by compressive and flexural test, then their physical properties such areshrinkage, absorption, density, and water content were also observed. Testsperformed on a mixture of clay bricks, sand, cement, water, and coconut fibers.Coconut fibers were cut and grouped to length of 4 cm and 2,5 cm. Respectivelythose 2 fibers have a percentage of 2%, 4%, and 6% of the cement mass. Storageconditions of the brick with 4 cm long fibers are in the room, while the brick withfiber length of 2,5 cm is placed in open space with roof. The use of coconut fibersshows that mechanical behavior of the brick with coconut fibers was better thanthat of a brick without coconut fibers. The test results also showed that the brickswith 4 cm long fibers in general perform better than a brick reinforced with 2,5cm fibers. Optimal percentage of coconut fibers addition is 4%, either in bricksreinforced with fibers with a length of 4 cm or 2.5 cm. |