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The present study concerns the experimental investigation of foamed concretes with 1600 kg/m 3 density that incorporate biochar additions in the mix. A series of small notched beams are prepared to determine the fracture energy in CMOD (crack mouth opening displacement) mode and the mechanical properties in terms of flexural and compressive strength. Besides the evaluation of such properties for classical foamed concrete, the influence of the addition of biochar in the lightweight cementitious paste is comparatively investigated. Two different concentrations of biochar are analyzed, namely 2% and 4% of the cement weight, and two different curing conditions are studied, namely in air and in water at controlled temperature for 28 days. The results demonstrate that better fracture behavior are obtained with 2% biochar and air curing conditions. The biochar additions in moderate concentrations (e.g. 2%) seems to make the fracture surface more tortuous, thus justifying the numerical outcomes, and does not impair the flexural strength. Further microstructural investigation is underway to confirm the experimental observations. This research paves the way for a promising construction material that is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than traditional materials used in the building industry.

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This contribution presents a set of experimental results on fiber-reinforced innovative lightweight panels (FRIL-panels) having thickness of 12mm. These panels are prepared with a peculiar foamed concrete that has a high viscosity and cohesion in the fresh state, which makes it particularly suitable for 3D printing applications. The FRIL-panels can be used for internal partitions, external infills, and suspended ceilings of buildings as more effective solutions than conventional plasterboard ones, with better thermal insulation and acoustic absorption properties due to the internal air-void microstructure. The aim of this work is to investigate the out-of-plane resistance of FRIL-panels, prepared with a density of 800kg/m3, under displacement-controlled three-point bending tests. In view of potential use in the precast industry, the FRIL-panels were placed into an accelerated concrete curing tank so as to speed up the overall production process. Modulus of rupture, ultimate deflection and collapse mode of FRIL-panels are critically analysed and discussed.