Abstract
The paper deals with the use of vibro-compressed units with bio-natural components on construction. The proposed mix design of vibrated blocks consist of cork granules and/or hemp shives, with the aim to substitute polymeric elements or expanded clay, together with the use of natural hydraulic lime (NHL) as binder. An experimental campaign is presented, with mechanical tests to evaluate the influence of each component on flexural and compression behavior. The proposal is also investigated from a productive point of view, considering how it can be harmonized in the productive process of lightweight aggregate concrete units without modifications in the productive process. The tested elements could perform a certain reduction of the carbon impact, maintaining interesting mechanical properties. The application of the proposed units in several contexts, as separating elements joined with structural components, is considered to improve rehabilitation or to obtain higher performances in buildings.
Highlights
Existing constructions, especially with historical masonry load-bearing walls, are often characterized by poor mechanical properties, due to the use of not-engineered or not-properly-selected components, as experimentally observed in [1,2]
The components chosen for testing were hemp shives and cork granules, while the binder was pure natural hydraulic lime (NHL) or NHL mixed with Portland cement
The mechanical test interpretation allowed us to make the following considerations addressed to an optimization of the proposed mix design types
Summary
Especially with historical masonry load-bearing walls, are often characterized by poor mechanical properties, due to the use of not-engineered or not-properly-selected components, as experimentally observed in [1,2]. The natural hydraulic lime (NHL) is exclusively derived from natural marl or siliceous limestone, with only the addition of water as in EN 459-1 and ASTM C-141 regulations: it commonly performs with compression strength values between 2.0 and 5.0 MPa. Low-impact and environmentally friendly new aggregates and binders can be reasonably included in a large-scale constructive process whether they are easy to supply and cost-effective [19]. Low-impact and environmentally friendly new aggregates and binders can be reasonably included in a large-scale constructive process whether they are easy to supply and cost-effective [19] They should have satisfactory mechanical properties and the mix design has to be workable. Mechanical tests are addressed to evaluate new mix design types for pre-cast masonry units These masonry units can be applied on elements for vertical separating walls or as horizontal elements at the base of low-rise buildings to help RCW elements [4]. Those elements could contribute to enforcing the capability of dissipating energy during rocking out-of-plane motions of walls [20], adding their role to the elastic restraints [21,22,23]
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