Insights into the Effect of Recycled Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer on the Mechanical Strengths of Cement Mortar

Abstract

The incorporation of recycled glass fiber reinforced polymer (rGFRP) in cementitious materials is an interesting recycling and valorization method. However, this incorporation generally results in a significant loss of workability, often compensated by an adjustment of the water to cement ratio, which can affect mechanical performance, particularly compressive strength. The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of different size fractions of rGFRP (0.063 mm, 0.16 mm, 0.63 mm, 1.25 mm and 2 mm) on the mechanical strengths of cement mortars with a mixing method that is likely to maintain the workability of the mix without adjusting the water to cement ratio. For this, a substitution rate of 10% (in volume of sand by rGFRP), supposed to induce workability loss, is chosen. A pre-mixing of rGFRP with water before adding cement and sand is performed and allows for the workability to be maintained without increasing the water content. The results show that compressive and flexural strengths are almost maintained compared with reference mortar for two rGFRP size fractions (2 mm and 0/2 mm). For the 2 mm fraction, a slight improvement (3%) in flexural strength after 7 months of curing and a 5% reduction in compressive strength are observed. After 7 months of curing, fibers or clusters of rGFRP are still observed, although they are not alkali-resistant.