Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Goulmima’s Earth Bricks
M. LECHHEB, M. CHRACHMY, M. BEN BAAZIZ, G. EL BOUKILI, H. OUALLAL, M. AZDOUZ, A. LAHMAR, A. BENAZZOUK, M. AZROUR
download PDFAbstract. Earthen constructions are prevalent in the Drâa-Tafilalet region of Morocco, yet there is a notable absence of comprehensive studies on the mud bricks used in these structures. This research endeavors to characterize a quarry utilized by Goulmima residents for mud brick production. Various techniques, including physico-chemical analysis (XRD, IR, FX, etc.), microscopic examination (SEM), and geotechnical assessments (Atterberg limits, grain size, etc.), were employed to analyze samples from the site. The bricks, formed at different firing temperatures, were blended with naturally crushed date palm seeds. The chemical composition, firing temperatures, and organic matter percentage directly influence mechanical properties and thermal conductivity. Material compressive strength exhibited a proportional increase with rising firing temperatures, peaking at 850°C. Conversely, elevating the percentage of crushed palm seed had an adverse impact on mechanical strength.
Keywords
Fired Clay Bricks, Date Palm Seed, Compressive Strength, Shrinkage
Published online 3/15/2024, 9 pages
Copyright © 2024 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: M. LECHHEB, M. CHRACHMY, M. BEN BAAZIZ, G. EL BOUKILI, H. OUALLAL, M. AZDOUZ, A. LAHMAR, A. BENAZZOUK, M. AZROUR, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Goulmima’s Earth Bricks, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 40, pp 198-206, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903117-21
The article was published as article 21 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.
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