An experimental study on the compressive behaviour of calcarenite masonry columns wrapped by fiber reinforced mortar wraps

The use of Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Mortar (FRCM) systems for structural retrofitting of masonry structures has become increasingly popular in the last years, due to the capability of this technique in overcoming some of the drawbacks related to the adoption of resin-based composites. In fact, FRCM systems ensure good compatibility between the reinforcing layers and the substrate, achieving also the removability requirement, which is of fundamental importance for historical constructions. Recent research studies focused on the mechanical performance of FRCM materials, by studying its tensile behaviour and bond between the strengthening layer and masonry, pointing out as failure is alwa…

COMPARISON OF CRIMSON FOUNTAINGRASS AND DISS FIBRES AS AGGREGATES FOR CEMENT MORTARS

The use of natural fibres in cement composites is an expanding research field as their use can improve the mechanical and thermal behavior of cement mortars and reduce their carbon footprint. In this paper two different wild grasses, i.e. Pennisetum Setaceum, also known as crimson fountaingrass, and Ampelodesmos Mauritanicus, also called diss, are used as source of natural fibres for cement mortars. The principal aim is to evaluate the possibility of using the more invasive crimson fountaingrass in place of diss inside cement based vegetable concrete. The two plants’ fibres have been characterized by means of electron microscopy, helium picnometry; moreover, the thermal conductivity of fibr…

ANALISI NUMERICA E SPERIMENTALE DELL’INFLUENZA DELLA QUALITA’ INTERFACCIALE SULLE PROPRIETA’ MECCANICHE DI MATERIALI COMPOSITI

L’analisi dell’interfaccia tra fibra e matrice è di fondamentale importanza per lo studio delle proprietà di materiali compositi innovativi e sostenibili per l’Ingegneria Civile. Il tema della ricerca ha previsto lo studio di compositi innovativi da impiegare nel settore industriale o dell’edilizia sostenibile ottenuti da materiali di scarto e/o naturali specialmente in termini di performance meccaniche (resistenza a flessione e compressione), fisiche (densità, porosità, assorbimento d’acqua per capillarità) e termiche (conducibilità termica, diffusività termica). Tali proprietà dipendono fortemente dall’interazione che si instaura tra i costituenti, intesi come fase dispersa (fibre o parti…

Effectiveness of sodium acetate treatment on the mechanical properties and morphology of natural fiber-reinforced composites

This paper aims to investigate the ability of an eco-friendly and cheap treatment based on sodium acetate solutions to improve the mechanical properties of flax fiber-reinforced composites. Flax fibers were treated for 5 days (i.e., 120 h) at 25 °C with mildly alkaline solutions at 5%, 10% and 20% weight content of the sodium salt. Quasi-static tensile and flexural tests, Charpy impact tests and dynamical mechanical thermal (DMTA) tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of the resulting composites. Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) was used to evaluate the chemical modification on the fibers surface due to the proposed treatment, whereas scanning electron micro…

Lemongrass Plant as Potential Sources of Reinforcement for Biocomposites: A Preliminary Experimental Comparison Between Leaf and Culm Fibers

AbstractNowadays, the world requires more sustainable and eco-friendly materials to replace or limit the usage of synthetic materials. Moreover, several researchers focused their attention on the use of agricultural sources as reinforcement for biocomposites since they are abundant, cost-effective and environmentally favorable sources. In such a context, purpose of the present paper is the evaluation of lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon flexuosus) as possible source of natural reinforcement for biocomposites. To this aim, natural fibers were obtained from the leaf and the stem of lemongrass and their main properties were compared for the first time. To this scope, mechanical and thermal characte…

FORMULATION OF LIME MORTARS BASED ON NATURAL FIBERS AND WASTE MATERIALS FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Nowadays sustainability is one of the main concept in building construction, both considering energy saving buildings and life cycle assessment of building materials. According to these considerations, in this work the use of recycled and waste materials to produce a binder and the use of a natural fiber as reinforcement are investigated to obtain a sustainable mortar. Particularly, lime is obtained by kilning waste marble slurry from marbles quarries in western Sicily; pozzolanic aggregate is obtained by grinding glass powder from urban waste collection; natural fibers come from a widespread grass: Ampelodesmos Mauritanicus also known as diss. Scanning electron microscopy and helium picnom…

The assessment over time of the performance of jute-basalt hybrid composites for cladding panels

The technology of dry assembly to produce multi-layer panels is an efficient alternative to traditional systems. Eco-sustainable systems are increasingly studied, particularly fiber reinforced composites for external cladding, based on natural fibers. Nevertheless, durability data on these composites are still lacking, being this is a really actual theme, especially for their potential use in outdoor applications. In this way, hybridization of natural fibers with mineral fibers as basalt ones appears promising. In the present paper, the performance of jute-reinforced laminate was compared with those of two jute/basalt reinforced hybrid laminates. The laminates were manufactured by means of …

INDUCED MODIFICATION OF FLEXURAL TOUGHNESS OF BIO-LIME BASED MORTARS BY ADDITION OF GIANT REED FIBERS

Fibers are often used as reinforcement of brittle materials, like mortars, in order to modify their mechanical behavior; particularly the modification in post-cracking toughness, induced by low elasticity modulus fibers in the artificial stone material, is the main goal in natural fibers mortar manufacturing. In this work Arundo donax L. fibers are used to reinforce lime mortars according to the characteristics of this plant, very commonly available and with high mechanical properties, similar to bamboo, traditionally used in buildings in Spain. Influence of fibers’ length and weight ratio is studied. Particularly, three different fibers’ lengths, 4, 8 and 12 centimeters, and three weight r…

Performances Recovery of Flax Fiber Reinforced Composites after Salt-Fog Aging Test

In the present paper, the performance recovery under conditions of discontinuous exposure to a marine environment of a natural fiber-reinforced composite (NFRC) reinforced by flax fibers was assessed. In particular, this laminate was initially exposed to salt-fog for 15 and 30 days, and then stored in a controlled air condition for up to 21 days. The flax fiber-reinforced composite showed coupled reversible and irreversible aging phenomena during the wet stage, as well as evidencing a significant mechanical recovery during the dry stage. Unlike the stiffness, the laminate showed a noticeable recovery of its flexural strength. This behavior affected the composite material toughness. A simpli…

SISTEMA LEGANTE IDRAULICO PER L’EDILIZIA DA MATERIALI DI SCARTO

INFLUENCE OF CORK POWDER GRAINSIZE IN THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CORK-NHL MORTARS

Cork is a unique material, characterized by small closed cell structures, high insulating properties, very low density, high fire resistance and a very good durability after simple thermal treatment. The main use of cork in the production of stopper and insulating panels obtained with cork grains and a polymeric resin. Usually cork grains used in panel production have a grainsize around 1-2 mm. In this work cork grains have been used as aggregates for natural hydraulic lime mortars by reducing grainsize distribution. Cork grainsize has been reduced by means of a knife mill and divided in three different distributions, i.e. 1, 0.5 and 0.25mm. Mortars have been prepared according to NHL to co…