Effect of the treatment of wood shavings on the physico-mechanical characteristics of wood sand concretes

This study investigates the effect of a wood shaving treatment on the physico-mechanical characteristics of wood sand concretes. The two main objectives of this work are to improve a lightweight sand concrete and to valorise local materials and industrial wastes. Three wood shaving contents, two types of sand concretes (dune and river sand concrete) and a preliminary wood shaving treatment have been used. Sand, cement, filler, admixture and water composed the sand concrete matrix. The shaving treatment appreciably increases the mechanical strength of the studied composites without a large influence on thermal conductivity. The shrinkage of the composite is considerably reduced and the wood-matrix adherence is improved. At low wood contents, the dune sand concrete remains always slightly more insulating and less strong than the river sand concrete. At higher wood contents, the two concretes present almost similar properties. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.