Haigh, Robert ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5776-0893 (2022) A comparative analysis of the mechanical properties with high volume waste cardboard fibres within concrete composite materials. In: Australasian Structural Engineering Conference, 9 Nov 2022 - 10 Nov 2022, Melbourne, Australia.

Abstract

With the increased focus toward sustainable practices, alternative solutions are becoming prominent across environmentally detrimental industries such as building and construction. Cement is the most utilised building and construction material, and production of cement contributes to 8% of the global annual carbon emissions. To reduce extraction of virgin materials to produce cement, waste materials can be partially supplemented in concrete. In this study, a comparative analysis of compressive strength properties of concrete is presented via the use of waste cardboard as a partial 15 and 20% cement substitute. Waste cardboard was converted to a fibrous material consisting of kraft fibres (KF)s. All concrete samples exhibited lower compressive strength results than the control of 25MPa at the 28-day interval. However, KF concrete exhibited higher compressive strength results when silica fume (SF) was applied as a fibre modification technique. The addition of the SF coating strengthened the compressive strength and enhanced the durability of fibres despite the increased KF percentage. This was shown with 15% raw KF concrete exhibiting 10 MPa at 28-days compared to 20% SF modified KFs demonstrating a strength of 11 MPa. The results showed the waste material can be integrated successfully within concrete and mortar materials. Future investigations will be the use fibre modification techniques and alternative additives to improve the mechanical strength properties of the bespoke concrete specimens.

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