Bio-Based Fibre Materials as Reinforcement Materials in the Construction Industry

Abstract

The Construction Industry is worldwide the most resource intensive sector. Therefore, sustainability and the resource efficient use of building materials are increasingly relevant issues in times of climate change. The use of fibre reinforced concrete can lead to a reduction of concrete for necessary savings due to corrosion-free reinforcement materials. The aim is to evaluate natural fibres that can be used as a substitute for conventional building materials, for example, as reinforcement in concrete. For this purpose, aspects such as sustainability, cultivation, fibre production, mechanical properties of the fibres as well as the composite material, and the behaviour of the fibres in concrete are investigated and quantified. In the following flax, hemp, coconut, and sisal fibres are analysed based on a literature research. Additional the challenges and chances of natural fibres in the construction industry are summarized. Afterwards, laboratory tests with flax and hemp fibres in concrete are realised and evaluated. In the tests, four-point bending tests are carried out and the resulting mechanical properties are evaluated.