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Influence of Wood Chip on Concrete Characteristics

Silouantonda Kouamissa Papy*, Nsongo Timothée

Higher Polytechnic National School (ENSP), Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo

Abstract: This paper presents the results of an experimental study of wood chip concrete. The aim is to study the influence of wood chip on the physical, hydric and mechanical properties of concrete. In a first step, the chips have been treated. In the second step, the materials have been characterized. Indeed, the particle size analysis of sand, gravel and chip then the absolute density test were performed. Thirdly, chip water absorption was evaluated. Fourthly, the concrete was formulated using the Dreux-Gorisse method. The wood chip in the concrete were incorporated by volume substitution of graver. Then, the concrete and wood chip concrete specimens were cast. Finally, the influence of the wood chip on the physical, hydric and mechanical properties of the concrete and wood chip concrete was evaluated. At 10%, chip decreased the density of concrete by 20.1%; increased porosity by 104% at 28 days and decrease the compressive mechanical strength of concrete by 56% and tensile mechanical strength by 47%.

Keywords: concrete, wood chip, mass density, porosity, mechanical strength

Received January 19, 2023; Revised February 25, 2023; Accepted March 07, 2023

Citation: Silouantonda Kouamissa Papy, Nsongo Timothée, Influence of Wood Chip on Concrete Characteristics. American Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, 11 (1). 1-6. January 2023. doi:10.12691/ajmse-11-1-1

1. Introduction

The wood chip in Congo is an environmental nuisance since it is usually burned. Using it in the building would be a possible solution. Thus, we incorporate wood chip into concrete and evaluate its influence on the physical, hydric and mechanical properties of concrete. The wood chip has already been the subject of several works in the literature [1-14].

The wood chip gives concrete the character of light concrete and loses its workability [5,15,16]. In fact, the subsidence of wood chip concrete decreases with the increase in chip. The same applies to its density. This loss of workability is due to the fact that when mixing wood concrete, the chip absorbs a significant part of the mixing water [16]. Khelifi, W. and al. [16], Bederina, M. and al. [8] and Bouchikhi, A. [13] in their work, have observed that wood chip in concrete increases its water absorption capacity and reduces its mechanical performance. This loss of performance increases with the increase of chip [7,17,18,19].

To improve the mechanical performance of wood chip concrete, a chip treatment is necessary. Thus, by treating the wood chip, [1,3,5,13,20] in their respective works, observed that the loss of mechanical performance is slowed or reduced. Similarly, the treatment of wood chip reduces the high-water absorption of chip. Bouchikhi A. [13] in her work, observed a strong reduction in water absorption of linseed oil treated chip and of concrete chip treated with linseed oil.

Al Rim, K. and al. [21], Kim, K-H. and al. [22], Collet, F. [23], Taoukil, D. and al. [24], and Akkaoui, A. [11], in their respective works, have observed that wood chip in concrete improve its thermal performance. In fact, the thermal conductivity and diffusivity of concrete decreased with chip intrusion.

This work focuses on the influence of wood chip in concrete on its physical, hydric and mechanical characteristics.

The methodology used for this work is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Methodologye of work

2. Materials and Methods

In this study, we used CEM II 32.5 R cement from Dangote, rolled sand from the Congo River, two classes of crushed gravel from the Kombe quarry and iroko wood chip. The iroko wood chip used is shown on Figure 2.

Figure 2. Iroko wood chip

The chip treatment was carried out to evaluate its influence on the water absorption of chip. This treatment of chip consisted of coating the chip with linseed oil. The choice of linseed oil is justified by the fact that coated with vegetable aggregates, linseed oil reduces the water absorption of vegetable aggregates and increases the mechanical performance of concrete made with these aggregates. This was observed in literature in works of [1,13]. We carried out the treatment of shaving with linseed oil with the oil/chip mass ratio of 0.75. The choice of this ratio is justified by the fact that by varying the oil/chip ratio, better results were obtained of reducing water absorption and reducing sugars contained in the chip with this rat [13]. After coating chip with linseed oil, the mixture was spread on a wooden tray for 7 days in the climatic room of 22±3°C temperature with 35±5% relative humidity, then dried in a controlled oven at temperature of 50 °C.

On Figure 3 is presented the drying of chip treated with linseed oil.

Figure 3. Drying of treated chip

After drying chip, their water absorption was evaluated at 1 minute, 15 minutes, 4 hours and 48 hours according to the recommendations of RILEM TC 236-BBM [25]. Water absorption was calculated using equation 1.

[picture] | (1)

In this equation, (%) is the water absorption of chip, ms (g) is the mass of submerged chip and md (g) is the mass of dry chip.

2.1. Concrete Formulation

To formulate the concrete, the classical method of Dreux-Gorisse was used. Thanks to the particle size curves and absolute densities of the materials, the composition was determined. With the Dreux method, the composition of the concrete for a given strength and workability was determined by involving the water dosage and the maximum size of the aggregates.

For the composition of wood chip concrete, chip intrusion was made by substituting in volume the gravel in percentage (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 %). The total substituted volume is the volume of chip to be introduced into the concrete. At percentages of 0 (no chip: control concrete), 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 of chip were given the denomination CC0, CC2.5, CC5, CC7.5, CC10 and CC12.5 respectively.

The water/cement ratio for concrete under the assumption is 0.56. To characterize the materials used (sand, gravel, chip), the particle size analysis test, which aims to characterize the size of the aggregates by determining the percentages by mass of the grains of each size, was carried out in accordance with standard NF EN 933-1. In addition, the absolute density test of the said materials was carried out in accordance with standard NF EN 1097-6.

The obtained particle size curves are shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Particle size curves of the used materials

The sand is 0-0.5 mm, chip 0.063-10 mm, gravel 1 is 5-16 mm and graver 2 is 16-25 mm particle size.

The absolute densities of the used materials are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Absolute density of the used materials

Once the composition of the concrete has been determined, the procedure for preparing the concrete composite of the elaborate wood chip is shown in Figure 5. The mixing time of the composite is 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

Figure 5. Composite preparatory mode

After preparation, the workability of the concrete and composite was determined using the Slum-Test [26].

The moulds of the concrete specimens and the concrete composite of the wood chip were filled in two layers; after demoulding after 48 hours, these specimens were stored at room temperature (22±3°C) in the laboratory until the test dates.

Figure 6 shows the concrete specimens after demoulding.

Figure 6. Concrete specimens after demoulding

2.2. Water Absorption

Water absorption and porosity of concrete and composite were determined at 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. They were determined by equations (2) and (3) [23]:

[picture] | (2)

[picture] | (3)

In these equations, W(%) is water absorption of concrete; ms(kg) is mass of submerged concrete; md (kg) is mass of dry concrete; P(%) is porosity of concrete; ρwater (kg/m³) is density of water and ρconcrete (kg/m³) is dry density of concrete.

After drying the concrete and concrete composite of the wood chip for 28 days at room temperature in the laboratory, the 15x15x15 cm³ cubic specimens were immersed in water until the test dates.

2.3. Mechanical Strength

The compressive strength of concrete was determined by means of a concrete press accordance with NBN EN 12390-3. The specimens to be tested are subjected to an increasing load until they break. The concrete press for compression has a maximum capacity of 3000 kN with a loading speed of 0.50 MPa/s. This press is connected to the computer which directly displays the value of the resistance in MPa. Figure 7 shows a specimen subjected to compression.

Figure 7. Compression specimen

The mechanical tensile strength by splitting was determined by means of a concrete press. The specimens to be tested are subjected to an increasing load until they break. The concrete press for splitting traction has a maximum capacity of 150 kN with a loading speed of 0.05 ±1% MPa/s. This press is connected to the computer which displays the maximum breaking force. The mechanical tensile strength by splitting is calculated in equation (4) [27]

[picture] | (4)

In this equation, fct,sp is mechanical tensile strength by splitting (MPa); Fmax is maximum breaking force (kN).

In Figure 8 is presented a specimen after splitting test.

Figure 8. Specimen after splitting test

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Water Absorption from Chip

The water absorption results of treated wood chip and untreated wood chip obtained are shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Water absorption from treated and untreated wood chip

At 1 minute (0.02h), untreated wood chip absorbs 38% of water which they absorbed at 48 hours; while wood chip treated with linseed oil absorbed 34% of water which they absorbed at 48 hours. In addition, the treatment of wood chip with linseed oil significantly reduces the water absorption of the chip, by about 60% at 1 minute and by about 70% at 48 hours. These results are consistent with those found in [13].

3.2. Physical Properties of Concrete

After determining the composition of the concrete shown in Table 2, we proceeded to pour the specimens of the concrete (control concrete) and the wood chip concrete.

Table 2. Composition of concrete for 1 m³

The results obtained from the density of concrete are shown in Figure 10. Each value is the average of 4 trials.

Figure 10. Density

We note respectively a reduction of 7, 10, 19, 20 and 21% of fresh concrete for a substitution of 2.5, 5, 7.5,10 and 12.5% of gravel by chip. The incorporation of wood chip into concrete, lowers its mass density. The mass density of the composite decreases with increasing chip. These obtained results are similar to those of [2,7,14,21].

3.3. Hydric Characterization

After the concrete had dried for 28 days in the ambient air of the laboratory, the concrete specimens were immersed in water until the test dates (day). The water absorption results of concrete are shown in Figure 11. Each value reported is the average of 4 trials.

Figure 11. Porosity

There is respectively an increase in day-to-day porosity of 38, 40, 60 and 95% then at 28 days of 49, 65, 120 and 158% for a substitution of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%. Moreover, beyond 21 days, the kinetics of water absorption continue to increase but relatively low; or respectively 0.8, 1, 0.5, 1.8 and 1.8% of the porosity at 21 days of CC0, CC2.5, CC5, CC7.5 and CC10. The incorporation of wood chip into concrete increases its porosity. As the chip rate increases, the porosity of the composite increases.

These results are similar to those found in [7,16].

3.4. Mechanical Characterization

The results of the compressive strength are shown in Figure 12. Each value reported is the average of 4 trials.

Figure 12. Mechanical compressive strength

The higher the chip, the lower the mechanical compressive strength. There is respectively a decrease in concrete strength of 14, 45, 52, 56 and 59% for the rates of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5.

The chip incorporated into the concrete, therefore, reduce its mechanical strength in compression.

These results are consistent with those found in [3,5,7,12,15,21].

The results of the tensile strength of concrete are shown in Figure 13. Each value reported is the average of 3 trials.

Figure 13. Mechanical tensile strength by splitting

The mechanical tensile strength by splitting decreases with increasing chip in the composite. There is respectively a decrease in resistance of 19, 23, 29, 47 and 49% for the rates of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5.

The incorporation of wood chip into concrete therefore reduces its mechanical tensile strength by splitting.

4. Conclusion and Perspectives

This experimental study highlighted the influence of wood chip levels on the physical, hydric and mechanical properties of concrete. The treatment of wood chip with linseed oil reduced their water absorption by about 70% at 48 hours. Wood chip had influenced the density, the porosity and also the mechanical strength of the concrete. In fact, wood chip reduced the density of concrete by up to 21% for a substitution of 12.5%; increased the porosity of concrete to 28 days up to 158% for a substitution of 10%. At 12.5% substitution, wood chip reduced mechanical compressive strength by 59% and mechanical tensile strength by 49%.

In perspective, it is interesting to carry out after drying, the water absorption tests of the composite beyond 28 days to determine its saturation time (time beyond which the absorption of water no longer takes place) and to carry out the mechanical tests of the said composite; this, to know its durability at this age.

In addition, since the treatment of wood chip has reduced their water absorption, it would be interesting to make concrete with chip treated with linseed oil in order to evaluate the influence of this treatment on the properties of concrete.

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[25]  
Amziane, S., Collet, F., Lawrence, M., Magniont, C., Picandet, V. and Sonebi, M., “Recommendation of the RILEM TC 236-BBM: characterization testing of hemp shiv to determine the initial water content, water absorption, dry density, particle size distribution and thermal conductivity,” Materials and Structures, vol. 50, no. 167, 1-11, Jun. 2017.

[26]   | NF EN 12350-2, “Essai pour béton frais. Partie 2: Essai d’affaissement,” 1-9, 1990.
[27]   | NBN EN 12390-6, “Essais sur béton - Partie 6 : Détermination de la résistance en traction par fendage d’éprouvettes,” 1-13, 2010.