First Experimental Results of Broom Fiber-Reinforced Mortar Mechanical Performances

This paper collects the early experimental results of flexural and compression tests conducted on cementitious-based mortar samples, either reinforced with natural broom fibers and unreinforced. The fibers, obtained from the processing of the brooms and coming from the Southern coast of Italy, have been used to package the mortar specimens. Fiber composite mortar was packaged by using two different fibers length (i.e., 15 mm and 20 mm) and with a fiber percentage equal to 0.5% with respect to mortar mass, mixed with a constant ratio in volume with mortar and water. Test results showed that the introduction of fibers involves an increase in porosity of the mortar mixture and a reduction of flexural and compression strength of the composite material. The proposed results are not certainly comprehensive but represent a baseline of the technical knowledge in the area and point out the need of further test programs designed to quantify the role of the fiber percentages, their texture and type of mortar.