Jute Fiber Composite Mortars: Sustainable Solutions for Thermo- Mechanical Retrofitting in Construction

Usually, man-made fibers are used in the construction and building sector for retrofitting or reinforcing purposes. However, these fibers are costly, non-biodegradable, non-recyclable, and contribute significantly to a higher carbon footprint, unlike natural fibers. Instead, jute fiber, being a bio-based natural alternative, ranks as the second most produced natural fiber and is recognized for its commendable thermal and mechanical properties. This paper explores the dual applicability of jute fiber composite mortar for thermo-mechanical upgrading and retrofitting. The research started at the fiber and thread level, involving the assessment of the physical characteristics and mechanical behaviors of raw jute fibers. Subsequently, this data was utilized to create jute fiber composite mortars, incorporating two distinct products. These composite mortars were formulated using three different jute fiber lengths (30 mm, 10 mm, and 5 mm) and four varying fiber percentages (2.0%, 1.5%, 1.0%, and 0.5%) in relation to the dry mortar masses. In total, 24 combinations of composite mortar samples were prepared. These samples underwent flexural and compression tests, as well as thermal conductivity assessments, enabling the evaluation of their mechanical properties and thermal behaviors.