Effect of the Addition of Dried Opuntia Cactus Fibers-Setting Times and Mechanical Resistance in Portland Cement Mortar Base

For this investigation cement–sand mortar and cement–water pastes were made with partial substitutions, relative to the weight of cement, of organic fibres for the purpose of restoring hydraulic concrete structures, damaged by diseases derived strength design. Five different proportions of dewatered fibres of Opuntia cactus white powder were used to produce mortars; the fibres were studied in percentages of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 4%. The workability of the cement–sand mixture, and the normal consistency and setting times in the cementitious material–water pastes were evaluated. Tests performed on the mortars were simple compression, bending, tension and adhesion, at ages of 14, 28, 45, 90, 180 and 360 days. The particle shapes and cementing of the fibres were also characterized. Substitutions of under 2% yielded favorable results. Keywords-mortar;opuntia cactus; addition