Valorization of micro-cellulose fibers in self-compacting concrete

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation dealing with the valorization of micro vegetable fibers resulting from recycled paperboard in self-compacting concrete (SCC) and its equivalent mortar (CEM). Concrete equivalent mortars were developed to optimize the formulation of target self-compacting concrete. In this study six different fiber volume factions by volume of cement, V f , were considered: 14%, 21%, 28%, 41%, 83% and 138%. Hence, a total of seven different CEM mixtures was cast by maintaining constant the ratio of water by binder ( W / B = 0.35 ) and the effects of V f on the grading of the solid skeleton, the packing density, the workability and the mechanical characteristics of CEM were analyzed. Experimental results show that compressive and flexural strengths are improved for V f = 21 % which can be considered as an optimum fiber volume fraction in CEM especially for an age higher than 7 days. Results obtained by testing the SCC confirm that CEM is an effective method to assess the fresh and hardened properties of SCC. Relationships between CEM and SCC properties are established.