HEMPCRETE

SEMINAR PRESENTATION BY

PRAJITH K P
REG NO 15010602
GUIDED BY
Sri EBIN JOE SYRIAC

Dept of Civil Engineering

GOVT POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, PALAKKAD
 INTRODUCTION
Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is an agricultural crop that can be used
as a building material in combination with lime and cement.
A composite building material that combines a cementitious
binder (building limes and cement) with hemp shives, the woody
core of the hemp stalk is generally referred to as hemp concrete
(HC).
HC has many advantages as a building material but it is not
load-bearing and must be used in combination with a load-
bearing RCC frame.
The aim of this seminar was to evaluate the feasibility of using
both hemp shives and fibres in a HC to determine an optimal
mix of the different binding agents and to investigate if adding
cement binder would improve mechanical strength of the
material.
The effects on compressive strength of pre-mixing the binder or
creating perforations in the test specimens were also
investigated.
 INTRODUCTION
Hempcrete is a lightweight concrete, made from hemp
pulp (or shiv), and hydraulic or aerated lime.
It is typically used for timber frame infill, roofing tiles,
insulation, renders, and floor slabs.
Hempcrete can make up for its mechanical drawbacks
through functionality and environmental benefits.
For instance, hempcrete exhibits a low thermal
conductivity (= 0.10.2 W/mK) that regulates the
temperature and humidity levels within a dwelling, a
high acoustic performance when compared to
traditional concretes, and an exceptional resistance to
fire without the need for fire-preventative measures
 ECO EFFICIENCY AND HEMPCRETE

Specific criteria for eco-efficiency entails the following

characteristics
Sustainability of the material: This entails the use of
Life Cycle Analysis to determine the durability of the
material. In addition, we include how it affects the
decrease in consumption of natural resources.
Reduction of Pollutants: Non-biodegradable and toxic
waste production, emission of greenhouse gases, and
water contamination is to be objectively avoided.
Retention of economic value: Regarding the use of
sustainable building materials, the goal of engineering
remains the same in regard to the efficient and
practical implementation of services.
 ECO EFFICIENCY AND HEMPCRETE

In light of this, eco-efficiency can have a more hands-on

application in the form of an eco-material, or rather, a
material that exhibits the qualities of eco-efficiency.

This definition sets the context for the use of hempcrete,

which is to be defined as an eco-material. A picture of a
hempcrete block is shown in Figure.
 APPLICATION OF HEMPCRETE

In the construction phase, hempcrete is most

commonly used for a timber frame infill, which is built
using a removable formwork mold, such as a plastic
casing.
The hempcrete is poured between the two formwork
plates into a dismountable mold. Each layer is carefully
leveled when placed in the mold, around 20 cm in
thickness for each addition.
This infill consists of a density at 400 kg/m3, and a
thermal conductivity () of 0.1 W/m.K, at 0% RH.
Alternatively, hemp can be applied as roofing
insulation with a density of 200-250 kg/m3 (=.06 W/
(m.K), at 0% RH), as well as a floor application, where
the density becomes 500 kg/m3 (=0.12 W/(m.K) at
0% RH).
The walling and roofing applications must meet a
 VAPOR PERMEABILITY

Hempcrete is a highly breathable material, which

allows for the regulation of indoor temperature and
humidity.
As the physical states of water (which has a heat
conductivity of =0.6 W/m.K) alternate from liquid to
vapor, it will actually modify the specific heat and
thermal conductivity of hempcrete (normally = 0.1
W/m.K).
This works to regulate the indoor temperature,
reducing the need for heating and cooling systems, in
addition to lending the material greater insulation
capacity, while maintaining the quality of the air.
ACOUSTIC
ABSORPTION
Figure 2.2 compares the NRC of
hempcrete to several common
materials used in houses.
 DRAWBACKS TO THE USE OF HEMPCRETE

MECHANICAL
DRAWBACKS
The most significant
setback of hempcrete is
its poor mechanical
performance, which
prevents hemp from
being used as a load-
bearing material. This is
due primarily to the fact
that hempcrete is highly
porous, causing a poor
adhesion to the lime
binder that results in an
elastic-like behavior Flexural stress of hemp/rHDPE
composite at various fiber fraction
along with pure Rhdpe
 DRAWBACKS TO THE USE OF HEMPCRETE

WATER RETENTION
In addition to poor mechanical performance,
hempcrete also has a high capacity to absorb and
retain water. it can be a significant detriment to its use
as a construction material.
For instance, the hemp shiv is able to absorb up to
300-400 times its weight in water problem comes when
hempcrete undergoes water absorption for an
elongated amount of time without proper ventilation.
When this occurs, the possibility of bio-decay arises, in
addition to freezing and thawing issues, and the
formation of salt crystals, which all decrease durability.
 HEMPCRETE AS A SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
MATERIAL
Hempcrete is a bio-composite mix made up of hemp
shive, lime, cement and water
It has low density, good thermal and acoustic
insulation properties, and can passively regulate
humidity in a built environment
However it also has low compressive strength and
modulus of elasticity.
Thus hempcrete cannot be used as a direct load
bearing material but can used as an infill material in
timber stud walls.

Hempcrete Block
 OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY

OBJECTIVES
The aim is to investigate the potential of producing local
hemp masonry blocks, using traditional mixes and local
raw material.
Study the physical properties of Hempcrete
a) Specific gravity of Hempcrete
b) Fire resistance of Hempcrete
c) Water absorption
Identify mechanical properties of hemp concretes using
hemp shives and binder compositions.
d) Compressive Strength
e) Split tensile Strength
Investigate whether pre-mixing the binding agents with
water before adding it to the hemp affects the final
strength of the material.
 OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY

METHODOLOGY
The following steps were involved in implementation of
the project and are not limited to,
Collection of raw materials
Mix design
Casting and cubing of Cubes, Cylinders.
Testing of Hempcrete
Discussions and conclusions on the results obtained
 MIX DESIGN

Hempcrete was moulded for 3 different types of samples.

The samples were mixed at different mix ratios. The mix
ratios are given at Table 7.1.The 1st sample was moulded
with low water ratio.2nd sample was moulded with high
water ratio.OPC was added in 3rd sample.
 MIX DESIGN
The hemp fibre is chopped up to the length of 5 cm.It
must constitute 62% of shives, 35% of fibres and dust
particles must not be more than 3%.
The fibre must be kept in water for 24 hours, in order
to absorb water.
The lime used can be of Class C, which is commonly
used for whitewashing purpose.
The lime has to be powdered and lumps must be
avoided.
When lime reacts with water heat is evolved which
leads in evaporation of water.
Therefore, the water required is very high as compared
to cement.
Also considering that the hemp absorbs more water,
the water-binder ratio for the three samples are 100%,
120% and 120 % respectively
 MIX DESIGN
Sample 1
Quantity Of Materials For Sample 1
 MIX DESIGN
Sample 2
Quantity Of Materials For Sample 2
 MIX DESIGN
Sample 3
Quantity Of Materials For Sample 3
 MIX DESIGN
Moulding into cube
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
The test method covers determination of compressive
strength of cubic hempcrete specimens. It consists of
applying a compressive axial load to molded cubes at a
rate which is within a prescribed range until failure occurs.
The compressive strength is calculated by dividing the
maximum load attained during the test by the cross
sectional area of the specimen.

APPARATUS:
Weights and weighing device.
Tools and containers for mixing.
Tamper (square in cross section)
Testing machine
Three cubes (150 mm side)
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Compressive strength for different
samples at 45 days
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Compressive strength for different
samples at 60 days
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
RESULT

The average compressive of Hempcrete is found

to be 0.973 MPa and 1.113 for 45 and 60 days
respectively. The strength of sample 3, which
also constituted OPC was found to be higher
than other samples.

INFERENCE

The compressive strength of hempcrete is 1/20

to that of cement concrete. It is also found that
the strength of concrete improves if cement is
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

SPILT TENSILE STRENGTH

This method covers the determination of the
splitting tensile strength of Cylindrical
hempcrete specimens.

Apparatus:
Weights and weighing device.
Tools, containers and pans for carrying
materials & mixing.
A circular cross-sectional rod (l6mm &
600mm length).
Testing machine.
Three cylinders (150mm & 300mm in
height).
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

SPILT TENSILE STRENGTH

After split tensile test
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

SPILT TENSILE STRENGTH

Split tensile Strength @ 45 days
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

SPILT TENSILE STRENGTH

Split tensile Strength @ 60 days
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

SPILT TENSILE STRENGTH

Split tensile strength
 OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF HEMPCRETE

Volume of hempcrete block =
150X150X150 = 0.003375

Therefore, the specific gravity of

hempcrete was found to be 0.817 which
is lesser than that of water. This property
of hempcrete makes it floatable in water
 CONCLUSION

Hempcrete has very low compressive strength and

elastic modulus which does not make it suitable as a
direct load bearing structural material. Compressive of
hempcrete increases with time. These particles can
absorb water and hinder in the hydration process of
the binding materials and thus result in a lower
strength
Another important property of hempcrete observed
from the compression tests was the large deformation
it can undergo after reaching the ultimate load . This
shows hempcrete has a quasi-ductile behaviour unlike
the sudden brittle failure associated with concrete
It was also found that the density is affected by water
content of the sample. For higher water content the
density decreases due to volume of voids. But this has
a good impact on compressive strength. As strength is
more for less density.