Title: Performance of Hemp Micro and Macro Fiber in Cement Mortar

Author(s): Brian Giltner, Seamus Freyne, Anthony Lamanna

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume:

Issue:

Appears on pages(s):

Keywords: bonding; fibers; hemp; tensile capacity; twine; water/cement ratio

DOI: 10.14359/51740822

Date: 5/14/2024

Abstract:
The focus of the study is to determine the optimum length of micro (average diameter less than 0.3 mm) and macro (average diameter greater than or equal to 0.3 mm) hemp fibers subjected to tensile loading in a cement paste mixture. Optimizing the length of the fibers to carry tensile loading for concrete members is important to minimize the waste of hemp material and to provide the best performance. This study evaluated three water/cement (w/c) ratios; 0.66, 0.49, 0.42 (f’c= 17.2, 24.1, 27.6 MPa respectively – f’c = 2500, 3500, 4000 psi respectively). Because of the high cost of cement, the replacement of cement with fly ash was also part of the program to determine if the addition of fly ash would have a negative impact on the performance of the hemp fibers. The results show that micro and macro hemp fibers bonded to the cement matrix and carry higher tensile loads at higher w/c ratios. Statistical analysis (regression modeling) shows that the optimum length for macro hemp fibers is 30 mm (1.18 in.) and 20 mm (0.79 in.) for micro-fibers.