Influence of date palm fiber and shrinkage reducing admixture on self-compacting concrete performance at early age in hot-dry environment

Abstract

This study is a contribution to the valorization of date palm fiber (DPF), which improve sustainability by substituting non-renewable raw materials by natural renewable resources and reducing construction costs. In this work, the influence of DPF and shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) on self-compacting concrete (SCC) exposed to hot-dry and laboratory conditions during the first 24h was assessed at early ages and on hardened properties. Two volume fractions, 0.1 and 0.2% by volume, of short DPF (1 and 2cm in length) and 2% volume fraction of SRA by amount of cement were considered. A total of 14 mixtures were tested and several early age parameters were measured, as early age drying shrinkage and cracking, capillary pressure, temperature, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and weight loss and hardened compressive strength, ultrasonic modulus and apparent porosity. Results showed that DPF produced on SCC similar effects to SRA in hot-dry environment, due to their ability to reduce early age drying shrinkage and cracking risk of the SCC.