An Innovative Experimental Petrographic Study of Concrete Produced by Animal Bones and Human Hair Fibers

• Published in: Sustainability 2021-07, Vol.13 (14), p.8107
• Main Authors: Petrounias, Petros, Rogkala, Aikaterini, Giannakopoulou, Panagiota P., Lampropoulou, Paraskevi, Xanthopoulou, Vayia, Koutsovitis, Petros, Koukouzas, Nikolaos, Lagogiannis, Ioannis, Lykokanellos, Georgios, Golfinopoulos, Aristidis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Agricultural wastes; Bones; Cement; Civil engineering; Concrete; Concrete properties; Construction industry; Crack initiation; Crack propagation; Durability; Earthquakes; Environmental impact; Fibers; Hair; Human wastes; Mechanical properties; Natural resources; Raw materials; Recycled materials; Reinforced concrete; Seismic engineering; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Sustainable use; Waste materials
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su13148107

The sustainable use of agricultural, industrial and human waste products as raw materials in the construction industry has been extensively investigated. This study aimed to conceive an innovative concrete composition mainly using recycled materials, which, as a result as waste from human activities and natural organic growth, such as animal bones and human hair, will be used in different mixtures in order to prepare concrete specimens. More specifically, the effect of these materials upon the final concrete strength was investigated, as well as how their petrographic characteristics may influence the durability of concrete specimens. Special emphasis was placed on the effect of the artificial increase in bone and hair microroughness and how these can improve the mechanical strength of the final product. The research results point towards the fact that the percentage of the replacement of natural aggregate rocks by animal bones tends to be enhanced by the increase in their microroughness using quartz primer. In addition, the use of bones with increased artificial microroughness and a certain percentage of human hair with increased microtopography seems to be the ideal mixture for the replacement of natural aggregates for the production of normal concrete.