Hemp concrete for the sustainable retrofit of the vernacular architectural heritage in the region of Senhaja Srair (Morocco)

Abstract

The motive of this research work is the development of hemp mortars for alternative economic development, based on the local hemp waste material of an ancestral hemp variety found in the Moroccan (Region of Senhaja Srair), and historically harvested for industrial as well as recreational purposes. This study has been done to encourage the use of hemp in construction industries that can reduce the usage of industrial binders and shift the focus on natural binders. The paper presents test results concerning two types of restoration mortars. The experiments were carried out to observe the drying kinetics, capillary water uptake and mechanical strength of hemp-clay mortars made with de-fibered or non-de-fibered hemp materials of domestic origin. The results shows that mortars with fibre have better behaviour than mortars without fibre.