Evaluation of sustainable concrete produced with industrial hemp and recycled aggregates

Abstract

Hemp and Recycled Aggregate Concrete (HRAC) is a sustainable concrete material prepared by partial or full substitution of natural coarse aggregates with a combination of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and industrial hemp fibers. The application of HRAC offers multiple benefits related to sustainable development. The new material would help in resolving the depletion of natural aggregate resources, mitigate the negative environmental impact of the construction and demolition waste (CDW) material of concrete-based structures, incorporate renewable and agricultural industrial hemp fibers as partial substitute of natural aggregates, and solve socio-economic problems associated with illegal farming of hashish, the illegal sister plant of Hemp, in Hermel-Bekaa (Lebanon) and elsewhere. The objective of the study is to achieve a concrete mix that incorporates RCA and is reinforced by industrial hemp fibers while assuring that the designed mix meets the requirements of high performance concrete including workability and durability. Tests would include plastic state slump and hardened state mechanical properties such as compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, modulus of elasticity, and flexural strength of standard beams. Also several characterization tests will be performed on the recycled aggregates and hemp fibers treated with different treatment types.