ABSTRACT
By definition, a sand concrete either does not comprise any gravels at all or only contains a small enough proportion whose the mass ratio (Sand/Gravel) remains higher than 1. If it contains gravels, the material would be called ‘a loaded sand concrete’ (PENPC 1994, Chauvin et al. 1988). This material, which was the subject of several researches currently, enters within the framework of the valorisation of local materials. This latter became a necessary solution to the economic problems of developing countries (Soufo 1993). In previous works, it was shown that the sand concretes are able to replace the conventional concretes in certain structures, along with the conclusion that the use of fillers is essential (Bederina 2000). Moreover, and in order to reuse the industrial wastes, which constitute environmental problems, wood shavings, coming from woodwork activities, have been incorporated in sand concrete. The effects of the addition of the latter on physico-mechanical properties have been determined (Campbell 1980). The weight is lower, the insulator capacity is better and the compressive strength is acceptable. In flexure, and at certain contents of wood shavings, the strength is higher (Bederina et al. 2005).
