Bio-aggregate-based Building Materials

Using plant material as raw materials for construction is arelatively recent and original topic of research. This bookpresents an overview of the current knowledge on the materialproperties and environmental impact of construction materials madefrom plant particles, which are renewable, recyclable and easilyavailable. It focuses on particles and as well on fibers issuedfrom hemp plant, as well as discussing hemp concretes. The bookbegins by setting the environmental, economic and social context ofagro-concretes, before discussing the nature of plant-basedaggregates and binders. The formulation, implementation andmechanical behavior of such building materials are the subject ofthe following chapters. The focus is then put upon the hygrothermalbehavior and acoustical properties of hempcrete, followed by theuse of plant-based concretes in structures. The book concludes withthe study of life-cycle analysis (LCA) of the environmentalcharacteristics of a banked hempcrete wall on a woodenskeleton. Contents 1. Environmental, Economic and Social Context of Agro-Concretes,Vincent Nozahic and Sofiane Amziane. 2. Characterization of Plant-Based Aggregates. VincentPicandet. 3. Binders, Gilles Escadeillas, Camille Magniont, Sofiane Amzianeand Vincent Nozahic. 4. Formulation and Implementation, Christophe Lanos, FlorenceCollet, Gérard Lenain and Yves Hustache. 5. Mechanical Behavior, Laurent Arnaud, Sofiane Amziane, VincentNozahic and Etienne Gourlay. 6. Hygrothermal Behavior of Hempcrete, Laurent Arnaud, Driss Samriand Étienne Gourlay. 7. Acoustical Properties of Hemp Concretes, Philippe Glé,Emmanuel Gourdon and Laurent Arnaud. 8. Plant-Based Concretes in Structures: Structural Aspect -Addition of a Wooden Support to Absorb the Strain, Philippe Munozand Didier Pipet. 9. Examination of the Environmental Characteristics of a BankedHempcrete Wall on a Wooden Skeleton, by Lifecycle Analysis:Feedback on the LCA Experiment from 2005, Marie-Pierre Boutin andCyril Flamin. About the Authors Sofiane Amziane is Professor and head of the Civil Engineeringdepartment at POLYTECH Clermont-Ferrand in France. He is also incharge of the research program dealing with bio-based buildingmaterials at Blaise Pascal University (Institut Pascal, ClermontFerrand, France). He is the secretary of the RILEM TechnicalCommittee 236-BBM dealing with bio-based building materials and theauthor or co-author of over one hundred papers in scientificjournals such as Cement and Concrete Research, Composite Structuresor Construction Building Materials as well as internationalconferences. Laurent Arnaud is a Bridges, Waters and Forestry Engineer(Ingénieur des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts) and researcher atJoseph Fourier University in Grenoble, France. He is also Professorat ENTPE (Ecole Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'Etat).Trained in the field of mechanical engineering, his research hasbeen directed toward the characterization and development of newmaterials for civil engineering and construction. He is head of theinternational committee at RILEM - BBM, as well as the authorof more than one hundred publications, and holder of aninternational invention patent.