Effect of Denim Waste Fibres on Technical Properties of Cementitious Lightweight Composite Mortars

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the utilization of recycled denim waste fibers (DWF) for reinforcing cementitious lightweight composite mortar (CLCM). The research focused on evaluating how the addition of DWF affected various aspects of CLCMs, such as flowability, fresh and hardened unit weight, porosity, water absorption, flexural strength, compressive strength, and load-deformation characteristics. Different proportions of fibers (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, and 1.50 wt.% of cement) were incorporated into the CLCM. The results of the tests indicated a slight decrease in both fresh and hardened unit weights compared to the reference specimen. It was noted that the consistency of the mortars declined with the increasing addition of fibers. Additionally, the inclusion of any amount of fiber led to an enhancement in the mechanical properties of the lightweight mortars. Furthermore, the reference mortar exhibited less deformation under load, indicating its higher brittleness. Moreover, the study observed that the incorporation of DWFs had the ability to simultaneously improve both the ultimate load-bearing capacity and deformation of the mortars.