Influence of Optical Fibres on Mechanical Properties of Mortar Mixes

The use of optical fibres in cement materials has gained significant attention in construction materials research due to its diverse advantages, including enhanced natural light utilization, energy efficiency, innovative design possibilities, and the ability to reinforce load-bearing capacity through fibre reinforcement. This study focuses on investigating the mechanical strength of two different mortar mixes with varying quantities of optical fibres. Specifically, this paper aims to compare the compressive and flexural strength of a standard mortar mix design with another featuring a reduced amount of Portland cement, while exploring the effects of different optical fibre quantities on mechanical properties. The approach involves developing mortar samples using a blend of Portland cement, limestone filler, and calcined clay as binders, along with sand, superplasticizer, water, and varying amounts of optical fibres. The main objective is to assess how optical fibres impact the compressive and flexural strength of mortars. Comparative analysis between samples without optical fibres and those with 1 mm diameter plastic optical fibres allowed identifying the changes in mechanical performance. The results indicate that when adding four optical fibres the compressive strength increased in both mortar mixes, while the flexural strength improved with the addition of different quantities of optical fibre in the standard mortar mix, however, no significant changes were observed in the alternative mix.