Physical and Mechanical Properties of Rapeseed Straw Concrete

Area of Science:

• Building Materials Science
• Sustainable Construction
• Biocomposites

Background:

• Innovative building materials are crucial for sustainable construction.
• Rapeseed concrete, a bio-based composite, offers potential as an insulating material for wood-frame walls.
• Understanding the influence of aggregate properties on its performance is key.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize rapeseed straw aggregates based on origin, harvest year, and strand size.
• To evaluate the impact of different rapeseed straw aggregate sizes (10 mm and 20 mm) on the mechanical resistance and thermal conductivity of bio-based concrete.
• To determine the optimal aggregate size for balancing performance.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of rapeseed straw aggregates from three different origins and harvest years.
• Preparation of rapeseed concrete using 10 mm and 20 mm straw aggregates.
• Testing of mechanical compressive strength and thermal conductivity of the developed bio-based concrete specimens.

Main Results:

• The parameters studied had a greater impact on compressive strength than on thermal conductivity.
• Rapeseed concrete with 10 mm aggregates showed lower thermal conductivity (0.073 W.m⁻¹.K⁻¹).
• Concrete with 20 mm aggregates exhibited higher mechanical strength (approx. 0.22 MPa), though still relatively low.

Conclusions:

• Rapeseed straw aggregate size significantly influences the thermophysical and mechanical properties of bio-based concrete.
• 20 mm aggregates provide the best compromise between mechanical and thermal resistance for insulating applications.
• Rapeseed concrete demonstrates potential as a sustainable insulating material for non-load-bearing applications in wood-frame construction.