Title: Structural Behavior of Simply Supported Beams Cast with Hemp-Reinforced Concrete

Author(s): Elie Awwad, Bilal Hamad, Mounir Mabsout, and Helmi Khatib

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 111

Issue: 6

Appears on pages(s): 1307-1316

Keywords: bond; flexure; hemp concrete; shear; structural performance; sustainability

DOI: 10.14359/51687032

Date: 11/1/2014

Abstract:
The paper reports on an investigation of the structural behavior of a sustainable green concrete material developed in recent research works that were conducted at the American University of Beirut and were reported in the literature. The strength and thermal properties of the green hemp-reinforced concrete with coarse aggregate reduction were determined in previous studies. Eighteen structural beam specimens were prepared and tested to fail in flexure, shear, and bond splitting modes. A control mixture and two concrete mixtures reinforced with hemp fibers but lower coarse aggregate contents were adopted. The objective was to investigate the synergetic performance of hemp-concrete material when cast in reinforced concrete members. The results indicate that regardless of the mode of failure, hemp-concrete beams prepared with hemp fibers and less coarse aggregate had similar peak loads as the control beams. Also, hemp-concrete beams exhibited better load-deflection ductile behavior after the peak load.