Influence of compactness and hemp hurd characteristics on the mechanical properties of lime and hemp concrete

ABSTRACT Research on concrete made with hemp is part of a sustainable development policy in the building field. The very low apparent density of the hemp hurds confers to lime and hemp concrete lightness and low thermal conductivity, however compared to usual construction materials, it has low mechanical strength. The presence of fibres in the hemp, the optimization of the granular to binder ratio, and the compaction during the casting process represent parameters which could significantly increase the compressive strength and change the mechanical behaviour of the material. A brief study of these parameters is presented and discussed in this paper.