Valorization of micro-cellulose fibers in self-compacting concrete

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, VfVf, 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=0.35W/B=0.35) and the effects of VfVf 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 Vf=21%Vf=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.