NATURAL FIBERS FOR SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE MIXES

To meet the sustainable development goals, novel concrete mixes are necessary. Natural fibers are becoming an interesting new element for concrete mixes, because these fibers are biomaterials recovered from residual biomass and fit in the concept of the circular bioeconomy. In this paper, we catalog research insights on concrete mixes with natural fibers, and pay special attention to natural fibers that are available in the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador, to use local bio-based materials. We focus on examining information from the literature on how natural fibers influence the mechanical properties of concrete, namely the tensile, compressive, and flexural strength. Based on this analysis, we have developed recommendations on which natural fibers are of interest for further experimental research, with the aim to develop sustainable concrete mixes for Quito. Moreover, this paper gives insights in how natural fibers influence the mechanical properties of concrete and proposes a framework that translates to other regions and cities for the selection of local and adequate natural fibers.