Experimental Characterization of the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Earth Bricks Stabilized by Alkaline Solution and Reinforced with Natural Fibers: A Comparative Study
Mohamed CHAR, Amine TILIOUA, Fouad MOUSSAOUI, Youssef KHRISSI
download PDFAbstract. The use of earth bricks is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional building materials. However, these bricks can be vulnerable to erosion and extreme climatic conditions, which may limit their use in arid and semi-arid regions. In this experimental study, the aim was to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of earth bricks by stabilizing them with a mixture of alkaline solution and reinforcing them with natural fibers (maize, reeds, and olive). To this end, we designed earth bricks with different fiber percentages (from 0% to 8% of soil weight) and a fixed percentage of alkaline solution of 1.5%. After 28 days, the bricks were subjected to an experimental study to assess their thermal and mechanical cleanliness. The results showed that bricks stabilized with a fiber percentage of 2% and 3% had the best mechanical properties. They also showed an increase in thermal resistance as the percentage of fibers used increased. In addition, these bricks had higher compressive and tensile strengths than unstabilized bricks. This experimental study demonstrated that stabilizing earth bricks with a mixture of alkaline solution and fibers significantly improved their thermal properties.
Keywords
Earth Bricks, Natural Fibers, Alkaline Solution, Thermal Properties, Mechanical Properties, Building Materials
Published online 3/15/2024, 10 pages
Copyright © 2024 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Mohamed CHAR, Amine TILIOUA, Fouad MOUSSAOUI, Youssef KHRISSI, Experimental Characterization of the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Earth Bricks Stabilized by Alkaline Solution and Reinforced with Natural Fibers: A Comparative Study, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 40, pp 109-118, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903117-11
The article was published as article 11 of the book Mediterranean Architectural Heritage
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
References
[1] D.A. Ness, K.e. Xing, Toward a Resource-Effiient Built Environment: A Literature Review and Conceptual Model, J. Ind. Ecol. 21 (3) (2017) 572–592, https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12586
[2] J.E. Oti, J.M. Kinuthia, J. Bai, Engineering properties of unfied clay masonry bricks, Eng. Geol. 107 (3-4) (2009) 130–139. Dio https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.05.002.
[3] A. Thennarasan Latha, B. Murugesan and B. Skariah Thomas, Compressed earth block reinforced with sisal fiber and stabilized with cement: Manual compaction procedure and influence of addition on mechanical properties, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.04.373
[4] A. Jesudass, V. Gayathri, R. Geethan, M. Gobirajan, M. Venkatesh, Earthen blocks with natural fibres – A review, Materials Today: Proceedings 45 (2021) 6979–6986 DIO : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.01.434
[5] K. Bougtaib, Y. Jamil, S. Nasla, K. Gueraoui and M. Cherraj, Compressed earth blocks reinforced with fibers (doum palm) and stabilized with lime: manual compaction procedure and influence of addition on mechanical properties and durability, JP Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 26 (2022), 157-177. https://dx.doi.org/10.17654/0973576322018
[6] E.B. Ojo, K.O. Bello, K. Mustapha, R.S. Teixeira, S.F. Santos, H.S Jr, Effects of fibre reinforcements on properties of extruded alkali activated earthen building materials, Construction and Building Materials 227 (2019) 116778. Dio: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.116778 .
[7] K. AlShuhail, A. Aldawoud, J. Syarif, I. Abu Abdoun, Enhancing the performance of compressed soil bricks with natural additives: Wood chips and date palm fibers, Construction and Building Materials 295 (2021) 12361. Dio : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123611
[8] R. Mateus, J. Fernandes, E.R Teixeira, Environmental Life Cycle Analysis of Earthen Building Materials, Elsevier Inc (2019).
[9] C.R. Ganesh, J. Sumalatha, K.S. Sreekeshava et al., Experimental study on strength behaviour of geofibre reinforced stabilized mud blocks using industrial by-products, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.04.045
[10] I. Bouchefra, F. EL Bichri, H. Chehouani, B. Benhamou, Mechanical and thermophysical properties of compressed earth brick reinforced by raw and treated doum fibers, Construction and Building Materials 318 (2022) 126031. Dio: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.12603
[11] M. Saidi, A.S. Cherif, B. Zeghmati, E. Sediki, Stabilization effects on the thermal conductivity and sorption behavior of earth bricks, Construction and Building Materials 167 (2018) 566–577. Dio :https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.02.063
[12] F.J.G. Silva, A. Baptista, G. Pinto, R.D.S.G. Campilho , M.C.S. Ribeiro, Characterization of hybrid pultruded structural products based on preforms, Compos B Eng 2018;140: 16–26.
[13] M.A. Navacerrada, P. Fernandez, C. Díaz, A. Pedrero, Thermal and acoustic properties of aluminium foams manufactured by the infiltration process, Appl Acoust 2013;74 (4):496–501
[14] A. Benallel, A. Tilioua, A. Mellaikhafi, A. Babaoui, M.A.A. Hamdi, Thermal characterization of insulating materials based on date palm particles and cardboard waste for use in thermal insulation building, in: AIP Conference Proceedings, AIP Publishing LLC, 2021, pp. 020024
[15] PHYWE, P2360300 PHYWE Series of Publications, Laboratory Experiments, Physics, PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG, Gottingen.
[16] H. Chaib, A. Kriker, A. Mekhermeche, Thermal Study of Earth Bricks Reinforced by Date palm Fibers, Energy Proc. 74 (2015) 919–925, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2015.07.827
[17] B. Tayeh, M. Hadzima-Nyarko, M.Y.R. Riad, R.D.A. Hafez, Behavior of ultrahigh-performance concrete with hybrid synthetic fiber waste exposed to elevated temperatures, Buildings 13 (1) (2023), https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010129
[18] P.O. Awoyera, A.D. Akinrinade, A.G. de Sousa Galdino, F. Althoey, M.S. Kirgiz, B.A. Tayeh, Thermal insulation and mechanical characteristics of cement mortar reinforced with mineral wool and rice straw fibers, J. Build. Eng. 53 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104568
[19] S. Hakkoum, A. Kriker, A. Mekhermeche, Thermal characteristics of Model houses Manufactured by date palm fiber reinforced earth bricks in desert regions of Ouargla Algeria, Energy Proc. 119 (2017) 662–669, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.07.093
[20] B. Taallah, A. Guettala, The mechanical and physical properties of compressed earth block stabilized with lime and filled with untreated and alkali-treated date palm fibers, Constr. Build. Mater. 104 (2016) 52–62, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.007
[21] S.M. Marandi, M.H. Bagheripour, R. Rahgozar, H. Zare, Strength and ductility of randomly distributed palm fibers reinforced silty-sand soils, Am. J. Appl. Sci. 5 (3) (2008) 209–220, https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2008.209.220
[22] K. Alshuhail, A. Aldawoud, J. Syarif, I. Abu, Enhancing the performance of compressed soil bricks with natural additives: Wood chips and date palm fibers, Constr. Build. Mater. 295 (2021) 123611, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123611
[23] B. Taallah, A. Guettala, S. Guettala, A. Kriker, Mechanical properties and hygroscopicity behavior of compressed earth block filled by date palm fibers, Constr. Build. Mater. 59 (2014) 161–168, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.02.058
