Types Of Mortars Research Articles

Exploration of the rules for the use of organic additives in the mortar of the Forbidden city

The Forbidden City exemplifies the official architecture of the Ming (C.E. 1368–1644) and Qing (C.E. 1644–1911) dynasties in China. The buildings within the Forbidden City adhere to a specific construction system and hierarchy. This study examined the organic additives in eighty-three lime mortar samples collected from the Forbidden City. These mortar samples were categorised into two main groups: garden mortar and construction mortar. The construction mortar was further subdivided into masonry, rendering, tile roof, and pointing mortars. Classical chemical analysis was performed to identify organic residues in the samples, including glutinous rice, sugar, oil, blood, and protein. Additionally, ovalbumin, casein, collagen, and peach gum were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results confirmed historical records regarding to the use of organic additives in ancient mortars. Statistical analysis revealed that the organic additives added to different types of mortars were selected according to the location and function of the mortar. This evidence supports the validity of traditional Chinese composite mortar scientifically. Ancient Chinese artisans adhered to rules aimed at practicality and functional realisation when selecting organic additives.

Experimental characterization of the in-plane shear strength of unreinforced masonry walls with damp-proof course and thermal break layer

Due to the highly demanding energy standards in Europe and challenging weather conditions, thermal break elements, such as aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC), have become increasingly popular in modern day residential buildings made of masonry cavity walls. Furthermore, a damp-proof course (DPC) layer is also used on top of the thermal break element to prevent water seeping and eventual entrapment due to capillary action. The presence of an AAC layer and of a DPC can have an adverse effect on the in-plane shear strength of a masonry wall, although information on this is barely available in the existing literature. This study aims at filling that knowledge gap through experimental investigations on traditional masonry walls and composite masonry walls, i.e. with an AAC and a DPC layer. The in-plane shear behaviour is compared between both types of wall specimens on the base of load-displacement curves and observation of failure modes. The capacity of analytical design approaches in predicting the test results has also been assessed. For the tested configurations, it can be concluded that the presence of AAC and DPC makes the failure mode switch from diagonal shear sliding combined with flexural toe crushing to horizontal shear sliding with crushing localized in the AAC layer, associated to a drop of the resistance by 6 to 9% depending on the type of clay units and mortar. The proposed analytical method, derived from EN 1996-1-1, is providing a safe estimate of the test results with a similar level of accuracy for traditional and composite configurations (predicted values in the range of 75 to 86% of the measured values). Finally, the influence of the definition of the compressed length and of the shear span ratio are shortly discussed.

Impact of Different Post-Curing Temperatures on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Waste-Modified Polymer Composites.

One of the key trends affecting the future of the construction industry is the issue of ecology; therefore, current activities in construction aim to reduce the use of raw materials, which is made possible by including recycled materials in composites, among other methods. This article describes the results of tests conducted using four types of epoxy composites, i.e., composites modified with waste rubber (WR), composites modified with waste polyethylene (PE) agglomerate, glycolysate obtained using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste, and control unmodified mortars (CUM). Selected properties of the mortars were monitored during their maturation under laboratory conditions, as well as after post-curing at elevated temperatures in the range of 60 °C-180 °C. With the increase in the reheating temperature, an increase in the flexural strength of all types of mortars was noted, with the highest more than twofold stronger than the unmodified composites. The compressive strength increased up to a temperature of 140 °C, and then decreased slightly. The highest value of 139.8 MPa was obtained using PET mortars. Post-curing also led to a slight loss of mass of all samples in the range of 0 to 0.06%. Statistical methods were employed, which made it possible to determine the post-curing temperature and composite composition for which the determined properties are simultaneously the most beneficial, especially for the prefabricated elements.

Effect of organic corrosion inhibitors on the behaviour of repair mortars and reinforcement corrosion

Repairing concrete structures affected by reinforcement corrosion is vital to ensure their durability and safety. Organic corrosion inhibitors (OCIs) are widely used in the construction industry to prevent steel corrosion due to their effectiveness, sustainability, and health and safety benefits. However, the effects of these OCIs on different types of repair mortars have not been extensively studied. This study evaluated the fresh and hardened properties, as well as the corrosion resistance, of four types of repair mortars (polymer-modified, general cementitious, fine-grained, and alkali-activated) incorporated with two types of OCIs (amino alcohols and sodium gluconate-based) at dosages of 0.5 %, 1 %, and 2 %. Additionally, the corrosion kinetics of mortars under the influence of OCIs were analysed using the impressed current technique. The results indicated that OCIs generally enhanced workability and increased void content across all repair mortars. The amino alcohol inhibitor increased the drying shrinkage of general cementitious and fine-grained mortars by up to 33 % and 39 %, respectively, and reduced compressive strengths by 47 % and 26 %. However, it did not significantly affect water absorption. In contrast, the sodium gluconate inhibitor increased water absorption in all repair mortars but notably decreased drying shrinkage by up to 47 % in polymer-modified mortar and 66 % in alkali-activated mortar. Despite the variations in the properties of repair mortars, OCIs effectively resisted corrosion and delayed crack formation time by up to 400 %. The resistance to corrosion improved with increasing amounts of the inhibitor. The results of this study were used to develop a technical guide for the construction industry, facilitating the selection of appropriate mortar compositions to effectively repair corroded concrete structures and reduce the risk of further corrosion.

Second Life for Recycled Concrete and Other Construction and Demolition Waste in Mortars for Masonry: Full Scope of Material Properties, Performance, and Environmental Aspects

This review presents the scope of current efforts to utilize recycled construction and demolition waste in mortars for masonry. More than 100 articles are divided into groups pertaining to the type of mortar, different binder systems, the type of construction and demolition waste (CDW), and its utilization specifics. Cement-based mortars dominate this research domain, whereas recycled concrete is the main material employed to replace virgin aggregates, followed by recycled masonry and recycled mixed waste aggregates. Such application in cement-based mortars could increase water demand by 20–34% and reduce strength by 11–50%, with recycled concrete aggregates being the most favorable. Natural aggregate substitution is disadvantageous in strong mortars, whereas weaker ones, such as lime-based mortars, could benefit from this incorporation. The extent of this topic also suggests possibilities for different recycled material use cases in mortars for masonry, although the available literature is largely insufficient to infer meaningful trends. Nonetheless, the most relevant knowledge synthesized in this review offers promising and environment-conscious utilization pathways for recycled concrete and other construction and demolition waste, which brings opportunities for further research on their use in mortars for masonry and industrial-scale applications.

Development and Characterization of Lime-Based Mortars Modified with Graphene Nanoplatelets

Materials for the conservation of cultural heritage must meet specific demands, such as high durability, service life, and compatibility with other materials used in the original building structures. Due to their low permeability to water and water vapor and their high rigidity, the use of Portland cement (PC) mortars, despite their high mechanical resistance and durability, does not represent an appropriate solution for the repair of historic masonry and structures. Their incompatibility with the original materials used in the past, often on a lime basis, is therefore a serious deficiency for their application. On the other hand, lime-based mortars, compared to PC-based materials, are more susceptible to mechanical stress, but they possess high porosity, a high water vapor transmission rate, and moderate liquid water transport. This study aims at the development of two types of lime-based mortars, calcium lime (CL) and hydraulic lime (HL). The modification of mortars was conducted with a carbon-based nanoadditive and graphene nanoplatelets (GNs) in three dosages: 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% of the binder weight. The enhancement of CL mortars by GNs greatly increased mechanical strength and affected heat transport characteristics, while other characteristics such as porosity, water absorption, and drying rate remained almost similar. The application of GNs to HL not only enhanced the strength of mortars but also decreased their porosity, influenced pore size distribution, and other dependent characteristics. It can be concluded that the use of graphene nanoplatelets as an additive of lime-based composites can be considered a promising method to reinforce and functionalize these composite materials. The improved mechanical resistance while maintaining other properties may be favorable in view of the increasing requirements of building materials and may prolong the life span of building constructions.

Performance Characterization of the Field Aged Asphalt Pavement Materials at Mortar Scale: Testing Method Optimization and Rheology Analysis

Performance evaluation at the asphalt mortar scale offers increased sensitivity to aging and is less affected by extraction processes comparated to asphalt mixture. Despite these benefits, there is currently a lack of standardized methods for directly processing mortar samples obtained from field mixtures. This study aims to improve and validate a manufacturing procedure for aged mortar specimens derived from field aging cores, and to evaluate the field damage level of asphalt paving materials at the mortar scale. A novel approach was developed that incorporates warm sieving, compaction, coring, and cutting to manufacture mortar specimens suitable for Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) tests. This study selected mortar specimens with different service ages and conducted rheological tests, including frequency sweep tests and modified Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) tests, to assess their rheological performance. And the significance test of all the indcies were conducted to select suitable indcies.The results show the proposed aged mortar manufacture approach can prepare eligible mortar specimens for rheology tests. The rheology test results show that several indices can distinguish different mortar types and service ages, and the indices of surface layer mortar follow a linear relationship with service age. The linear viscoelastic zone (LVE), representative shear modulus (G0), and unrecovered creep compliance at 1.6kPa (Jnr1.6) and 3.2kPa (Jnr3.2) are identified as effective indices for evaluating the behavior of field aged mortar because of their effectiveness, lower variability, and better distinction.

Evaluating the Role of Mortar Composition on the Cyclic Behavior of Unreinforced Masonry Shear Walls.

The mechanical behavior of unreinforced masonry (URM) shear walls under in-plane cyclic loading is crucial for assessing their seismic performance. Although masonry structures have been extensively studied, the specific influence of varying lime content in cement-lime mortars on the cyclic behavior of URM walls has not been adequately explored. This study addresses this gap by experimentally evaluating the effects of three mortar mixes with increasing lime content, 1:0:5, 1:1:6, and 1:2:9 (cement:lime:sand, by volume), on the cyclic performance of brick URM walls. Nine single-leaf wall specimens 900 mm × 900 mm were constructed and subjected to combined vertical compression and horizontal cyclic loading. Key parameters such as drift capacity, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation were measured. The results indicated that the inclusion of lime leads to a moderate improvement in drift capacity and ductility of the walls, with the 1:1:6 mix showing the highest lateral capacity (0.55 MPa), drift at cracking (0.08%), and drift at peak capacity (0.31%). Stiffness degradation and energy dissipation were found to be comparable across all mortar types. These findings suggest that partial substitution of cement with lime can enhance certain aspects of masonry performance. Further research is recommended to optimize mortar compositions for unreinforced masonry applications.

Influence of The Type of Laying Joint on The Mechanical Behavior of Prisms Made With Ecological Bricks

Objective: This paper proposes the study of the influence of laying joints on the mechanical behavior of masonry prisms made with ecological bricks. Method: To this end, an experimental program was developed including prisms constructed with different types of joints: laying mortar, adhesive mortar and PVA glue (polyvinyl acetate). Results and Discussion: The adhesive mortar and the conventional mortar were characterized in terms of their compressive strength, obtaining a resistance approximately 1.36 times the compressive strength of the brick (6.92±0.51 MPa), while the settlement was close (0.99%). The average compressive strengths of the prisms were very different, demonstrating that the laying joint has a significant influence on cement-based masonry. It was found that the use of adhesive mortar made it possible to increase the resistance capacity of the prisms to compression by 75%, when compared to prisms made with joints that used PVA glue. However, the laying mortar showed a similar result, at 53%. The rupture mode observed in the prisms made with sticky and conventional mortar was due to traction cracking in the brick units. Research Implications: In this study, it can be concluded that when using ecological bricks with different types of joints, the thickness and type of mortar can have a significant influence on the final strength of the materials, however thin joints tend to maximize the effects defects and reduce the resistant capacity of these masonries.

Compressive Strength Analysis of Renewable Mortar after Portland Cement Replacement with Waste Ash

There are many environmental problems caused by factory waste. Sugar factory waste, in the form of bagasse ash, and PLTU factory waste, in the form of fly ash, are currently in the spotlight of science studies. This study used waste bagasse and fly ash to substitute Portland cement as the main ingredients for mortar. Baggash and fly ash waste were collected, processed, and then used to replace cement by up to 40% to determine to what extent they could be used in brick masonry work, wall plastering, and masonry paste. Experimental tests were carried out on mortar cube samples measuring 5×5×5 cm, comparing four types of samples consisting of Portland cement, bagasse ash, and fly ash. The compressive strength results were obtained after 28 days. Normal Mortar (MN=11.75 MPa) had higher compressive strength than the substitute mortar types MA (3.23 MPa), MB (3.09 MPa), and MC (2.98) MPa. According to SNI 6882-2014, MA, MB, and MC mortars can be used as O-type mortar (2.4 MPa). Therefore, they can be applied to wall plastering or walls not bearing loads.

Impact of the partial substitution of cement and sand by ash from several types of wood species in cementitious materials manufacture: valorization in the industrial field

The main objective of this article is to evaluate the potential use of wood ash as a substitute for cement and sand in mortars. Three types of wood were selected: Ayous, Sapelli and Fraké, all of which were sourced from carpentry in Cameroon. The sawdust was dried and combusted to obtain ash, then ground and sieved. Six types of mortar were produced, with cement substitution at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. The physico-mechanical properties of these substitutions were determined after 7, 28 and 56 days. The results of the cement paste consistency show that it increases with the addition of ash, due to the fact that sawdust ash requires a large quantity of water. The addition of ash caused an increase in setting time due to the fact that sawdust ash is less reactive than Ordinary Portland cement, resulting in a delay in the rate of cement hydration. Apparent density values decreased with the addition of sawdust ash, probably due to the hygroscopic behavior of type of ash in mortar specimens. The highest pozzolanic index is that of 5% replacement by ash and almost identical absorption for all mortars at this substitution percentage. Acid attack results revealed a higher durability of mortar specimens with the higher percentage of ash substitution. Optimum compressive strengths for the different substitution percentages were observed at 5%, 15% and 10% respectively for Ayous, Sapelli and Fraké. The best wood ash is Sapelli because of its chemical composition and resistance to compression in mortars. At 56 days, compressive strength values exceed those of the reference composition. This may be due to pozzolanic reactions in the mortars of ash.

Reliable unit strength correlations to predict the compressive strength of grouted concrete masonry

Compressive strength of grouted concrete masonry is an important parameter to design reinforced/grouted concrete masonry walls. The design standards stipulate two methods to determine the compressive strength of masonry (1) using tabulated unit strength and mortar type, and (2) testing representative masonry prisms. The compressive strength prediction of grouted concrete masonry is influenced by compressive strength values of hollow blocks, mortar and grout, and their geometries. Therefore, a multi-level approach was employed in this study to improve the existing unit strength correlations of the standards for more reliable prediction of compressive strengths of grouted concrete masonry. The existing methods to determine the compressive strength of grouted masonry were critically appraised and a database of compression tests of grouted concrete masonry prisms/wallettes was developed. This database was then used to evaluate the correlations between the compressive strengths of block, mortar, grout and masonry. The applicability of existing unit strength correlations from the design standards and literature were assessed and their relevancy and limitations are highlighted. Subsequently, updated sets of unit strength correlations are proposed in this study, through statistical reliability analyses of the predictions against the experimental results included in the database. The proposed unit strength correlations were classified according to the mortar type/strengths (≤ 10 MPa and > 10 MPa). It has been shown that the new correlations are more structurally reliable than the existing unit strength correlations through comparing the 95th percentile error values.

Reinforcing steels in low-carbon mortars subjected to chloride attack and natural carbonation: Contradictory trends in passivation ability and corrosion resistance

After a 7-year exposure to simulated marine environments with chloride attack and natural carbonation, the passivation ability and corrosion resistance of carbon steel and 2304 duplex stainless steel in two types of low-carbon mortars, designed with alkali-activated slag and Bayer red mud, were investigated, which were compared with those observed in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar. Although a reduced passivation ability was confirmed for steels in the low-carbon mortars, an improved corrosion resistance was highlighted after long-term exposure. Accordingly, the underlying mechanisms for the detrimental impacts and beneficial effects on the corrosion resistance of steels provided by these low-carbon mortars were discussed in terms of pore solution chemistry, pore structure as well as electrical resistivity, which will shed new lights on the design of novel cementitious materials with low carbon footprint and high corrosion protection.

Experimental shear behaviour of masonry walls reinforced with FRCM

The shear strength of piers and spandrels is a crucial factor in masonry buildings, affecting structural safety. Such a strength can be increased in several ways, particularly by using fiber reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) reinforcements. These reinforcements can be applied symmetrically on both sides of the wall or only on one side. As it is well known, the FRCM-to-substrate adhesive properties strongly affect the effectiveness of such reinforcements. Moreover, a complete covering of the reinforced surface with bidirectional mesh evenly distributes the stresses, improving the load-bearing capacity. Appropriate test methods, for example diagonal tests, can be effectively used to evaluate the shear capacity of masonry panels, even with externally bonded composite material reinforcements, and the corresponding failure mechanism. This paper describes the results of an experimental campaign involving masonry panels, made with three different types of mortar, also reinforced with a PBO-FRCM system, subjected to diagonal tests. Through the experimental results, it was possible to determine the shear capacity of the panels, identify the failure mechanisms and evaluate the effectiveness of the FRCM reinforcements. The predictive capability of design formulas proposed in the literature for evaluating the shear capacity of unreinforced and reinforced masonry panels has been analyzed in the paper.

Pore structure characteristics of artificial sand aggregate mortar

With the progressive depletion of natural sand, the substitution of natural sand with artificial sand as a construction aggregate has received significant attention. To analyzed the pore structure characteristics of artificial sand aggregate mortars, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology was utilized to analyze the distribution characteristics and dynamic changes of five types of aggregate gradation mortars, and fractal theory was employed for characterization. The study examined on the correlation between aggregate gradation and pore structure, fractal dimension, and assessed the connectivity of the pore structure. The results showed that: water-saturated samples were mainly composed of micropores and movable fluid pores after 28 days of hydration, while the micropores and clay-bound fluid pores dominated after 365 days of hydration. The formation of the pore structure in multi-aggregate-graded mortar is influenced by both the surface-to-volume ratio and aggregate packing density. At the same hydration time, lower porosity in water-saturated mortar results in increased non-homogeneity of the pore structure and a reduced permeability coefficient. Well-graded aggregate mortar has stronger resistance to hydraulic erosion, and the stronger the erosion effect of water will be with more developed pore structure.

EVALUATION OF PROPERTIES OF MASONRY MORTARS BLENDED WITH CERAMIC WASTE POWDER

<p class="ABSTRACT">Aiming to meet the principals of the modern circular economy, this study explores the possibility of using locally available waste materials in the production of innovative, eco-friendly mortar for masonry. The eco-binder, applied as a substitute for cementitious material, is ceramic waste powder (CWP) generated during the production of ceramic industry elements. Within the experimental program, compositions of twelve types of masonry mortars were designed with volumetric ratios of solid components 1:1:5, 1:0.7:4.2, and 1:1:4 (cement + eco-binder/lime/sand), varying the percentage of cement replacement with ceramic powder (up to 80%). The basic properties of masonry mortars were tested, including consistency, compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, capillary water absorption, and adhesion. The test results indicate that ceramic waste powder can be successfully used as a partial replacement for cement up to high substitution levels, yielding more sustainable masonry mortars for use in load-bearing or non-load-bearing masonry structures.</p>

Reuse of waste rockwool for improving the performance of LC3-based mortars made with natural and recycled aggregates for sustainable building solutions

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of waste rockwool (RW) addition on the thermo-physical, mechanical, and fire resistance properties of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3)-based mortars. LC3 binder has been produced by replacing 60 wt% of OPC with limestone (LS) powder and metakaolin (MK) at a percentage of LS to MK of 1:2 (wt%). Waste RW was added at various ratios of 1, 3 and 5 % (by weight of binder) into two types of LC3-based mortars made with natural sand (NS) and ferrochrome waste slag (FCS) aggregates with a binder-to-aggregate vol% of 1:3. Upon the addition of 5 wt% of waste RW, significant enhancements of about 19 % and 21 % were obtained for the compressive strength of NS and FCS mortars, respectively, and attributed to the improved physical packing. After exposure to standard fire for 1 h with a maximum applied temperature of 945 °C, residual strengths of about 57.5 % and 63.8 % have been maintained by the sand and FCS-blended LC3 mortars, respectively. Generally, the incorporation of RW led to a slight increase in the thermal conductivity of both types of mortars; however, the FCS-blended LC3 mortar possessed relatively higher increment rates as compared with the sand mortar, which is helpful in improving the thermal performance in hot climate regions. Remarkable improvements in the microstructure characteristics in terms of compactness, uniformity, and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) tightness were attained by RW addition. Lifecycle assessment (LCA) results demonstrated that about 38–45 % lower carbon emission is associated with the designed LC3-based mortars than the conventional OPC mortar.

The Role of Superplasticizers on the Workability Consistency of ECC Mortar Fresh Mortar Due to an Increase in the Percentage of Palm Shell Ash

Engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) are composites that have better attraction properties and behavior than concrete. ECCs are usually formed from cement, water, silica sand, cementitious materials, fibers, and other additives with a certain proportion. In this study, there are three types of ECC mortars (types AME, EM, and TEM) where these types are differentiated by the amount of cement used, the quantity of water, and the number of sand used. Each type uses ashes of palm shells with the same proportions of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of the weight of cement. According to trial and error during the workability test, the number of superplasticizers used also increased according to the increase in the percentage of ash in the palm shell, where the variation of superplasticizers achieved was 0.70%, 1.59%, 2.49%, and 3.40% of the weight of cement. Based on the results of the slumpflow test, the average diameter of the ECC freshly mixed mortar was between 88 cm and 106.5 cm, and the T500 slump flow was between 0.28 seconds and 1.39 seconds. The test results show a fairly good workability consistency of all ECC fresh mortars, although there has been an increase in the percentage of palm shell ash used. Superplasticizer turns out to be very important in maintaining consistent workability of fresh ECC mortar mix.

Effects of synthetic site water on bentonite-concrete system for a potential nuclear waste repository

In high-level nuclear waste (HLW) repositories, concrete and compacted bentonite are designed to be employed as buffer materials, which may raise a problem of interactions between concrete and bentonite. These interactions would lead to mineralogy transformation and buffer performance decay of bentonite under the near field environment conditions in a repository. A small-scale experimental setup was established to simulate the concrete-bentonite-site water interaction system from a potential nuclear waste repository in China. Three types of mortars were prepared to correspond to the concrete at different degradation states. The results permit the determination of the following: (1) The macro-properties of Gaomiaozi (GMZ) bentonite (e.g. swelling pressure, permeability, the final dry density, and water content of reacted samples); (2) The composition evolution of fluids from the synthetic site water-concrete-bentonite interaction systems; (3) The sample characterization including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Under the infiltration of the synthesis Beishan site water (BSW), the swelling pressure of bentonite decreases slowly with time after reaching its second swelling peak. The flux decreases with time during the infiltrations, and it tends to be stable after more than 120 d. Due to the cation exchange reactions in the BSW-concrete-bentonite systems, the divalent cations (Ca and Mg) were consumed, and the monovalent cations (Na and K) were released. The dissolution of minerals in the bentonite such as albite causes Si increasing in the pore water. It was concluded that the hydro-mechanical property degradation of bentonite takes place when it comes into contact with concrete mortar, even under low-pH groundwater conditions. The soil dispersion, the uneven water content, and the uneven dry density in bentonite samples may partly contribute to the swelling decay of bentonite. Therefore, the direct contact with concrete has an obvious effect on the performance of bentonite.

Mechanical and fracture properties of mortars reinforced with glass fibre and prepared with different cement types

PurposeThe main aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of Anti-Crack HP 67/36 glass fibre on the mechanical performance of mortars made of cement, with a focus on post-cracking evaluations using the digital image correlation (DIC) technique.Design/methodology/approachExperimental tests were carried out on 36-mm long fibres at 0.8% by volume and added to the normal strength (NSM), high strength (HSM) and high strength mortar with fly ash (HSMFA) mortars. CEM I 52.5 CP2 NF, CEM II/A-L 42.5 NF and CEM III/C 32.5 N-SR PM were used for each series of mortar to assess the performance of the glass fibres with the types of cement. F-class fly (FA) ash was used to reduce global CO2 emissions.FindingsThe mortar’s strength decreased as the cement types changed from CEM I to CEM II and III. However, due to changes in the portlandite content of the cement, water porosity increased for both types of mortar, without and with fibre. It was also found that using glass fibre increased flexural strength more than compressive strength, regardless of the type of cement used. For all the strength classes, it was found that the mortar mixes with CEM I had the highest critical crack opening (wc) and fracture energy (GF), followed by CEM II and III. No significant effects were observed in the mortar’s property by replacing fly ash (12%).Research limitations/implicationsOnly mortars were formulated in this study, but the results must be verified at the concrete scale.Practical implicationsValidation of the DIC technique to characterize the post-cracking behaviour of cement-based material. Use of glass fibres to improve the material’s resistance to cracking.Social implicationsUse of CEM II and CEM III cements with low CO2 footprint instead of CEMI without altering the mechanical performance of the material.Originality/valueThe work is a further contribution to studying the cracking behaviour of several series of variable mortars depending on the resistance class and the type of cement used.