Masonry Mortars Research Articles

Development and performance evaluation of a novel high-ductility fiber-reinforced lime-pozzolana matrix for textile reinforced mortar (TRM) masonry strengthening applications

This paper discusses the development of a high ductility fiber reinforced lime mortar with deflection hardening behavior. In this study, polypropylene fibers have been incorporated in a cementless reference matrix comprising of Natural Hydraulic Lime, silica fume, siliceous aggregates and workability aid admixtures. The properties of the reference and fiber reinforced mortar compositions were assessed by means of standardized laboratory tests and scanning electron microscopy. The reference composition gave an average compressive strength of 12 MPa, rendering it suitable for structural applications. Fiber addition at a dosage of 0.76% by wt. of solids led to a reduction of the compressive strength; however, sufficient load bearing capacity was still achieved (8 MPa). More importantly, the fibers enabled the mortar to sustain useful load after damage initiation, improving post-peak ductility under compression and allowing the material to reach bending stresses up to 20% higher than the first-crack strength. To evaluate the practical application of the proposed materials, their use as matrices in textile reinforced mortar (TRM) strengthening systems was investigated through pilot applications on stone masonry. Diagonal compression tests were performed on 9 ashlar masonry wallettes, including both un-retrofitted and TRM-retrofitted specimens. Single-sided TRMs consisting of alkali resistant glass textiles embedded in either the reference or the fiber reinforced mortar were considered. Specimens retrofitted with TRM constructed using the fiber reinforced mortar, exhibited a remarkable ~ 270% increase in shear strength and > 50% higher deformation capacity, compared to un-retrofitted ones. The strength increment achieved with the reference mortar as the TRM matrix was 80%, with minimal impact on ductility. The TRM comprising the fiber reinforced mortar also showed superior performance in terms of ability to retain integrity at high levels of shear deformation. Overall, the results indicate that the use of fiber reinforced lime matrices in TRM systems applied to masonry substrates has the potential to substantially enhance mechanical performance under in-plane loading, even in cases where only single-sided retrofitting can be realized.

Clinker High-Hollow Ceramic Stones: Prospects for Technology and Application

A substantiation is given for the prospects of using clinker large-format ceramic stones of increased hollowness with a water absorption of less than 3% in construction. It has been shown that due to the high strength of the ceramic material itself (more than 100–150 MPa), ceram-ic stones will have the necessary strength – more than 10–15 MPa in terms of compressive strength. Due to the increased void content with as many rows of voids as possible per 100 mm length of the ceramic stone and a smaller thickness of the internal walls, the stones will have reduced thermal conductivity. Due to the low porosity of clinker ceram-ics as a material and the use of appropriate masonry mortars, masonry made of clinker stones will be guaranteed not to be vapor permeable, which will significantly increase the service life of buildings. When us-ing certain technological techniques, namely the application of cham-fers, relief, engobes on the front faces, large-format high-hollow clinker stones can also play the role of facing products, which will significantly increase their consumer attractiveness. With an increase in the hollow-ness of stones, the costs of mass preparation, drying and firing of products are proportionally reduced, which significantly reduces their cost. It has been shown that the “ideal” raw material for producing clinker large-format ceramic stones can be stone-like clay raw materials – argillite-like clays, argillites, shales and their transitional varieties. When grinding them and preparing molding masses, due to the for-mation of a certain grain composition and the introduction of corrective microadditives, it is possible to obtain molding masses with optimal pre-firing technological properties and a clinker shard with water ab-sorption of up to 3% and a compressive strength of up to 200 using one raw material. MPa, bending strength up to 50 MPa.

Mortars and Renders: The Case of the Roman Villa Horta da Torre Fronteira, Portugal

The archaeological site of villa Horta da Torre in Portugal reveals distinctive architectural features within the context of Roman villae in Hispania. Notably, the triclinium was designed with an artificial cascade originating from a double apse wall, and the walls were adorned with mosaic tessellae panels and marble skirting. During the Roman era, the surrounding area belonged to the former province of Lusitania, with Augusta Emerita serving as its capital. This study examines 11 mortar samples from various contexts and functions, such as masonry, preparatory, render, and opus signinum mortars. A set of complementary analytical techniques was employed to determine the textural and mineralogical compositions of the mortars. The aim was to gain insights into the production techniques and the selection of raw materials within the geological context of this rural construction. It was observed that the processing of raw materials and production techniques did not always adhere to the rules of Vitruvius. A comparison with other villas revealed comparatively less meticulous attention to sand selection and precise layering for mural painting. Nevertheless, it was noted that in preparatory layers for the supranucleus and nucleus tesserae, ceramic pieces were intentionally added to improve the mortar. The binder used was calcitic lime, likely obtained from locally sourced limestone. The nature of aggregates is diversified but consistent with the local geological provenance within a radius of less than 3 km, in accordance with two sand exploration sites. This research aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, contributing specifically to SDG 11 and Target 11.4, which “aims to strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage”.

Unreinforced masonry walls under two-way out-of-plane bending: Comparison of FE model predictions with analytical models

Four existing design guidelines based on the virtual work method have been compared to predict the out-of-plane (OOP) bending capacities of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls to one-way and two-way actions. The two-way OOP bending design equation as per the Australian masonry standard (AS 3700) and the three subsequent models developed by other researchers are based on specific wall geometries, support conditions, dimensions and strengths of masonry units and mortar. Due to limited experimental data available on URM walls under two-way bending, it is difficult to carry out a detailed investigation of the performance of these two-way design models against all the design parameters. This paper applies the finite element (FE) modelling technique to generate data and extensively investigate the influence of support conditions, pre-compression and aspect ratio on the two-way OOP bending capacity of URM walls. An explicit FE model previously developed by the authors where masonry is macroscopically modelled as an anisotropic composite material, is used for this purpose. Performances of three key parameters (i.e., moment capacity under horizontal bending and diagonal bending and torsional shear strength of masonry) that differentiate the four design models are investigated against varying levels of vertical pre-compression and flexural tensile strength of masonry. The OOP bending capacity predicted by the FE model is compared with the predictions of the design models. Results show that three out of four design models generally overpredict the two-way OOP bending capacities of square and taller walls. Further refinement to the AS 3700 design equation has been proposed in a modified model. The outcomes of this research will help to improve the design of masonry walls under OOP bending.

Farklı Duvar ve Harç Malzemeleri İle Üretilen Duvarların Mekanik Özelliklerinin Belirlenmesi

Walls produced using different masonry materials and mortars are among the structural elements that carry horizontal and vertical loads. In this context, the mechanical properties of walls produced with different wall and mortar materials have been investigated. In the production of wall samples, Harman Brick (HB), Masonry Brick (MB) and Bimsblok (BB) were chosen as the mesh material Reinforced Mortar (RM) and Polypropylene Fiber Added Mortar (PM) were used as binding materials in the construction of the walls produced in 900x900 mm dimensions. The volumetric mixing ratios of the mortar used were prepared as sand:cement:lime=6:1:1, according to the TSE 2510 standard. The bricked wall samples were subjected to diagonal loading tests after being kept in the laboratory environment for 28 days. Flexural and compressive strengths of the mortars used in wall building, displacement values of the walls, shear strength, rigidity modulus, energy absorption capacity and collapse patterns of the walls were determined. The graphs of the displacement values obtained by examining the behaviors observed in the test samples and the cracks formed were interpreted. It was observed that the shear strength of the walls built using PM was higher than the shear strength of the walls built using RM. The energy absorption capacity was highest in the fibrous specimen laid with masonry bricks. The average vertical load value of the wall specimens built with fibrous mortar, which is the BB of the masonry material, was 30% higher than the specimens built with non-fiber mortar.

Coating mortars produced with recycled PET aggregates: A technical, environmental, and socioeconomic approach applied to Brazilian social housing

Plastic is one of the most used materials worldwide, and its final destination constitutes an environmental liability. Clean technologies aiming to reuse plastic waste are imperative from a socioeconomic and environmental perspective. In this sense, this work assesses a technical, thermal, and socioeconomic performance analysis of coating mortars produced entirely with recycled polyethylene terephthalate aggregates (PET), applied to a social housing prototype. The coating mortars’ bulk density was reduced by 30 %, and the compressive strength was impaired between 45 % and 65 % due to hydrophobicity, morphology, and specific gravity of PET aggregates. The PET-containing mortar that exhibited the most suitable properties for masonry coating was characterized in terms of thermal properties and adopted for building the energy simulation. In the sensitive analysis conducted for all bioclimatic zones in Brazil, the PET-containing mortar reduced the energy demand for home air conditioning by up to 12 %, which equals up to 92 % of the Brazilian minimum wage over one year. The socioeconomic analysis indicated that it is viable to use PET-containing mortars for masonry coating, with payback times between 2.4 months and 5.6 years, for one of the cities analyzed. The technical and economic feasibility of using PET-containing mortars for social housing internal and external masonry coating was also explored. This research highlights the benefits of reusing plastic waste in civil construction. This approach can contribute to developing other economic sectors, mitigate the housing deficit, and enhance the dignity of vulnerable populations worldwide.

The use of air entraining/plasticizing admixtures in cement-lime masonry mortars: Effects on fresh and hardened mortar properties

Modern day masonry mortars rely on more than just standard constituents, which by definition include binder, aggregates and water. Due to different requirements imposed onto various types of masonry construction, ready mix mortar manufacturers and even masons and labourers on construction sites add certain additives to their mortar formulations. In this study, one standardized admixture is studied – an air entrainer/plasticizer (EN 934-3), coming in two forms – liquid and powder. It is applied to increase the air content and plasticity of cement-lime masonry mortar, formulated in volumetric proportions of 1:1:6 for cement, lime and aggregates. The dosage of admixtures is gradually increased starting with the manufacturer’s recommendations until the excessive air entrainment is achieved in order to determine the optimal dosage. Fresh mortar properties, including consistency, air content and bulk density are used to assess the enhancement of mortar influenced by the addition of the admixture, whereas compressive and flexural testing is performed at 7 and 28 days to monitor the disadvantages brought by reducing density. The results of this study reveal that the efficacy of a liquid admixture is better than that of a powdered air entrainer/plasticizer, albeit it being more difficult to use accurately. In both cases, higher dosage than manufacturer’s recommendations was required to reach satisfactory improvement of the fresh mortar structure, which resulted in a mixing water reduction, increased air content and reduced bulk density. That subsequently influenced the decreased strength, although optimally formulated mortars adhered to their strength class requirements.

The behaviour of orthodox historic churches built with lime mortar in Romania consolidated with reinforced concrete after the 1977 earthquake

In Romania, historic monuments have suffered significant damage after earthquakes. In the southern part of Romania, in the Oltenia region between the years 1838 and 1977, five strong earthquakes with magnitude exceeding 7 ML occurred, causing severe and repeated damage to Orthodox churches constructed with brick masonry and lime mortar. After the 1940 earthquake, consolidation was carried out with modern materials for that period, such as metal ties and reinforced concrete. Due to the collapse of the central tower made of brick masonry during the 1977 earthquake in the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Craiova, it was reconstructed using reinforced concrete columns and beams. Furthermore, the consolidation was carried out using reinforced concrete. Due to the different mechanical properties of historic brick masonry with lime mortar and reinforced concrete, cracks appeared over time on the church walls in the contact zones between these materials. Under the coordination of Bishop Irineu of Oltenia, consolidation works were initiated for 17 historic monument churches in the Gorj region after the earthquakes in 2023, and this Church in Craiova was included in the list. The article presents the modes and areas of damage resulting from the introduction of consolidations with irreversible materials, together with the results of in situ tests conducted by the EXPIN laboratory in Padua, Italy, to determine the mechanical properties of the load-bearing elements comprising the Church and structural analysis of the Church using ETABS software to predict past, present, and future behaviour.

Effect of Superplasticizer in Cement Type on Morphological Characteristics of Masonry Mortar

Cement plays a crucial role in mortar composition, and its particles exhibit a strong tendency to flocculate when mixed with water. This flocculation necessitates the addition of substantial water to improve the workability of mortar or concrete. However, this extra water does not contribute to the hydration reaction, potentially weakening the mechanical properties of the mortar. The introduction of superplasticizers has addressed this issue by reducing the water demand. Nevertheless, a common practice in construction is to use a standard dosage of superplasticizers for the same type of cement, even when sourced from different cement factories, which may affect material performance. This study investigated the influence of varying superplasticizer dosages on Portland pozzolana cement from different Ethiopian cement factories, examining the morphological characteristics of masonry mortar. Specifically, it evaluated the impact on cracks, porosity, and surface structure across different curing ages, as well as assessed the mortar’s physical and mechanical properties. Mortar samples prepared using cement from three factories, labeled A, B, and C, with constant cement‐to‐sand ratios of 1:3 and water‐to‐cement ratios of 0.5. Superplasticizer added in varying amounts 0%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1%. The morphological analysis conducted using a 3D optical surface profiler microscope at 1, 7, 21, and 28 days. Besides these standard physical and mechanical tests also performed on all samples. The results demonstrated that addition of superplasticizers significantly influenced the surface morphology of mortar samples. Mortars A and B exhibited denser structures with superplasticizer dosages 0.8% and 1%, respectively, whereas mortar C displayed a denser structure in its control state (without superplasticizer). The flexural and compressive strength tests also revealed notable differences. Sample A2 (0.8%) from group A, sample B3 (1%) from group B, and sample C0 (0%) from group C achieved the highest strength within their respective groups at 28 days. The findings suggest that it is essential to evaluate the specific properties of cement before applying a standardized superplasticizer dosage, as variations in cement production can significantly influence the performance of the mortar.

Shrinkage and creep behaviour of thin layered mortared masonry

Shrinkage and creep behaviour of thin layered mortared masonry

The Use of Pre-Wetting to Improve the Mechanical Behavior of Masonry Mortar Elaborated with Crushed Oyster Shell

In this research, the use of the pre-wetting technique is proposed as an ecological alternative to reduce water absorption in waste oyster shells used in the production of masonry mortar as a partial substitute for natural sand. An experimental study was conducted to assess the properties in both the fresh and hardened states of masonry mortars. Two mortar groups were prepared based on a control mixture, with natural aggregate replaced by crushed oyster shell (COS) in varying proportions. In one group, the COS was pre-wetted, while in the other group, the COS was used at its natural moisture content. The experimental results demonstrated that the pre-wetting process aided in reducing the water–cement ratio (w/c) in the mortar mixture, thereby improving its properties. In both mortar groups, favorable results were observed with respect to capillary water absorption. Although the compressive strength was affected by the incorporation of COS, pre-wetted mortars with substitutions of up to 30% achieved the reference value established in this research. The pre-wetting process proves to be a straightforward and cost-effective technique; it is environmentally friendly and will contribute to decreasing the accumulation of COS in landfills, thereby safeguarding natural material reserves.

Effect of Coir Fiber Reinforcement on Flexural and Compressive Strengths of Masonry Mortar

Effect of Coir Fiber Reinforcement on Flexural and Compressive Strengths of Masonry Mortar

Bond strength of alkali-activated flyash based masonry system for sustainable construction

Bond strength is a crucial factor that impacts the performance, structural reliability and stability of masonry constructions. This paper aims to examine the efficacy of various masonry unit and mortar combinations and their bond strength thereby, evaluating their adhesion performance. It experimentally analyzes two masonry unit types paired with two mortar combinations. One is the traditional clay brick and the other is an alkali activated flyash based brick. Alkali activated flyash bricks and mortars use flyash as a sole binder, activated with popular alkalis, thereby reducing carbon footprints compared to cement manufacturing. Two types of mortar used are conventional cement mortar and alkali activated flyash mortar. Bonded prisms were tested to determine the compressive, tensile, shear, and flexural bond strengths. The results revealed significant variations in bond strength across different combinations of masonry units and mortar. Notably, it was observed that alkali-activated bricks bonded with alkali-activated mortar exhibited higher bond strength, compared to conventional cement mortar. These findings provide valuable insights in assessing the compatibility between masonry units and mortar, highlighting the potential of this technology for sustainable construction practices.

ON THE PROPERTIES OF CEMENT-SAND MORTARS PLASTIFIED WITH CARBONATE CLAYS

The use of cement-sand mortars plasticized with carbonate clays in earthquake-resistant construction has been demonstrated in experimental tests. The compositions and physical-and-mechanical characteristics of these mortars have been identified for the first time, allowing for a reduction in cement consumption of up to 40% as well as a complete elimination of the costly lime while enhancing the mortar's strength. The use of cement-sand mortars plasticized with carbonate clays has been suggested for performing earthquake-resistant construction from local sawn limestone. The experiments’ findings were put to the test and put into practice in Nagorno-Karabakh's construction complex. The study's finding s are in line with research and regulatory documents for cement-clay mortars for masonry.

Influence of Lime on Strength of Structural Unreinforced Masonry: Toward Improved Sustainability in Masonry Mortars

The choice of a sustainable construction material needs to take into account not just the environmental impact of the material, but according to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the UN, one also needs to consider ease of access, the utilization of locally available materials, and the durability and reliability of the construction itself. Mortared masonry has been used around the world for several hundred years as an accessible type of construction. In masonry mortars, lime and cement are often integrated together for combined advantages: enhanced workability, breathability, and better environmental performance due to the former, and higher strength and shorter setting duration due to the latter. However, despite being extensively studied for their effects on the mechanical properties of mortar, not much is known about the impact of varying lime and cement ratios in the binder on the mechanical performance of masonry as a whole. Variations in the properties of mortars do not always have a significant impact on the mechanical behavior of masonry structures. Therefore, this article details an experimental campaign to measure the compressive strength, E-modulus, flexural strength, and shear bond strength of masonry samples containing two distinct lime–cement mortars (1:2:9 and 1:1:6 cement:lime:sand) and one cement mortar (1:0:5). The results show that more than the presence of lime in the mortar, the strength of the mortar influenced the flexural strength of the masonry ranging from 0.1 to 1.2 MPa. No discernable correlation was observed between the presence of lime in the mortar and the cohesion in the masonry (0.29 to 0.41 MPa). The values of the compressive strength (6.0 to 7.2 MPa) and E-modulus (3.8 to 4.5 GPa) of the masonry decreased and pre-peak ductility increased with an increase in the quantity of lime in the mortar. The recommendations of Eurocode 6 for the flexural strength of the initial shear bond strength were found to be conservative for different mortar strength classes, and significantly unconservative for compressive strength (by 50% to 70%).

Comparative Analysis Based on Flowability, and Electric Resistivity of Sand Aggregates Used in Mortar Plastic Mix Design

Different sand quarries used to build construction in Morelia, México were analyzed, the optimum mortar configuration was obtained based in the analysis of sand aggregates. Different mixes mortar configuration with Portland cement, masonry mortar, lime, sand, and water, were elaborated and characterized. Two different configurations were proposed, one with the addition of 1/4 of lime and the second with 1/2 of mortar masonry in relation to cement ratio. 3 different quarries were studied, and the proportion of sand were from 2.25 to 4. All the samples were analyzed by flowability and wet electrical characterization. The flowability of all different mix configuration pastes was studied to comprehend the sand-water relation of the mortar mix and to observe the different water requirements in function of the sands proportion and quarry origin. The results shows that the sand proportion 2.25 and 3.25 in configuration 1 (1/4 lime) had 123 and 124 % respectively, the highest values. The flowability of sand proportion in configuration 2 (1/2 masonry mortar) were closed and above 100%. The mortar samples were also characterized by the electric resistivity test to analyze the porosity of the mortar in relation to the sand aggregate. All the sand proportion of configuration 1 were under the minimum limit, the 2.5 sand proportion were the closest with 9.51 kΩ-cm. With the configuration 2, 3.5 sand proportion at 7 days from bank J show the highest value 15.48 kΩ-cm.

Utilization of Blast Furnace Slag as an Enhancer in Masonry Mortars Made with Thermally Treated Waste Concrete Powder

Every year, a massive amount of natural materials are subjected to high temperatures during cement production, resulting in 5% to 8% of total global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The employment of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) for developing construction materials could reduce the use of natural materials and CO2 emissions during cement manufacturing. One option to accomplish this is to examine the possibility of producing masonry mortars using thermally treated waste concrete powder (WCP) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). The main objective of the present study is based on this. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase I, WCP was thermally treated at various temperatures of 0 °C, 300 °C, 500 °C, and 700 °C and then used to prepare mortars at a binder-to-fine aggregate ratio of 1:3. From the strength results obtained in Phase I, a mortar mixture made with 500 °C WCP was selected for Phase II investigation. Mortars were produced by replacing the 500 °C WCP with GGBFS at 0%, 25%, 40%, 60%, 70%, and 85%. It was found that the performance of the mortars was enhanced when GGBFS was used up to 60%. The mortar mixture containing 60% thermally treated WCP and 40% GGBFS produced the optimal physical and mechanical properties. Also, material characterization was carried out on the binders using X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicate that the thermally treated WCPs and GGBFS contain oxides similar to cement, making them suitable for mortar production. In conclusion, the study has shown the feasibility of producing masonry mortars using thermally treated WCP and GGBFS.

Environmentally Friendly Masonry Mortar Blended with Fly Ash, Corn Cob Ash or Ceramic Waste Powder.

Implementing a circular approach through waste valorization in mortar production with environmentally efficient mix design is a viable pathway for relieving the ecological burden of greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion and waste management. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the feasibility of using fly ash (FA), corn cob ash (CCA), and ceramic waste powder (CWP) as supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) in cement-lime masonry mortars. As part of an extensive experimental study, twelve mortar mixtures were made: three reference and nine blended, with mixing ratios of 1:1:5, 1:0.7:4.2, and 1:1:4 ((cement + SCM)/lime/sand), by volume. The examined properties include workability, compressive and flexural strengths, dry bulk density, capillary water absorption, adhesive bond strength, and water vapor permeability. The compressive and flexural strengths of tested mortars were notably impaired, with reductions of up to 60%, while the capillary water absorption coefficient rose by 100% compared to the reference values. The adhesive bond strength of some blended mortars exceeded the strength of the reference mortars. Nevertheless, all blended mortars fulfilled the requirements for general-purpose mortars, while the majority met the criteria for structural masonry applications. In addition, a performance-based index and weighting triangle were used for the comparison and ranking of all analyzed mortar mixtures. The findings of this study may herald a novel use of FA, CCA, and CWP as more eco-friendly binding materials in contemporary construction leading to the reduction in the process's carbon footprint, the improvement in cost efficiency, and the mitigation of the detrimental environmental impact of waste disposal.

Durability of organic blended lime mortar and its shear bond strength in brick masonry

Durability of historical structures is one of the most significant parameters that is appreciable and is of utmost importance. From studies conducted earlier it has been witnessed that the lime mortar used in these structures is embedded with organic additives that has enhanced the different properties of the mortar. Therefore, understanding the behaviour of these additives and their impact on the durability of the mortar is of significance use. To witness the effect of an additives on the mortar, jaggery, egg, and jute are taken as organic additives in the present study. To determine the durability properties of these organic-based lime mortar, acid attack, alkali attack, and wetting and drying tests has been performed. Further, the bond strength of these organic lime mortar in brick masonry has been examined by performing a triplet test. According to the sulphuric acid attack test, the lime mortar with jute as an additive has shown the best results with only a 5% loss in strength which is 23 % in lime mortar without any additive. In the alkali resistance test also, jute has shown exceptional behaviour with a strength loss of 1.5% which is 22% in lime mortar without additive. In the triplet test, the shear bond strength of jaggery-based mortar is 27.77% higher than the mortar without additive, hence showing the best result in the shear bond test. These results can be used in the studies conducted to repair and reconstruction of our heritage structures that need to be revived.

The influence of graphene admixture on strength properties of cement-based composites

Cement-based composites pose a long tradition in the construction industry and are used in various forms such as structural concretes, masonry and plaster mortars, injection and special mixtures for three-dimensional concrete printing. Fine granular composites intended for injection and printing activities may have increased tend to shrinkage and cracking. The application of nanomaterials may bring a partial solution to toughening of cement-based composites. For this reason, the effect of the addition of various amounts of graphene admixture up to 0.03 wt.% on the strength properties of fine granular cement-based composites was researched. All prepared fresh mixes had the constant w/c ratio, and the behavior of modified composites was compared with plain reference material. On hardened test specimens, compressive strengths obtained after 1, 7 and 28 days of curing time were evaluated. The experimental investigation revealed, on the one hand, the partial worsening of workability of fresh mixes being compensated with an increasing amount of a superplasticizer and, on the other hand, the increment of compressive strength up to 12.5 % even for specimens with the lowest addition of graphene.