Mechanical Properties of Adobe Reinforced with Wheat Fibers in Iran (Persia)
R. Nasiri, K. Ghavami, M. Kadivar, A. Maghami
Abstract. In adobe constructions, earthen blocks are made of a clayey-sandy-silt mixture with or without straw and/or additives. Based on a survey of traditional earth used in adobe constructions in Iran (Persia), the most commonly reinforcement’s fibers used are wheat straw, animal or human hair and some additives such as lime, hydrated salts, natural gum, and animal blood. In this study, the effects of some traditional amendments on the mechanical properties (Compressive, Bending and Tensile Strength) of adobes are investigated. The soil for the test samples is a mixture of sand, silt and clay which was taken from the mountain of the city of Yazd situated in center of Iran. Then the adobes were sun-dried without significant warping or cracking. Main considered variables were the percentages of the additives for establishing the best mixing trace. It has been observed that the strength of the adobe blocks increases significantly with the presence of straw and amendments. For a constant wheat fiber/soil ratio, the increase in additives increases the soil’s mechanical strengths including Compressive, Bending and Tension Strength. The optimum level of wheat fiber content was achieved with 50 percent of soil volume addition and the optimal level of lime content was achieved with 10%. However compressive, bending, and tensile strength increases with the increase in the natural gum contents.
Keywords
Adobe, Natural Gum, Lime, Compressive, Bending, Tensile Strength
Published online , 10 pages
Copyright © 2018 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: R. Nasiri, K. Ghavami, M. Kadivar, A. Maghami, ‘Mechanical Properties of Adobe Reinforced with Wheat Fibers in Iran (Persia)’, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 7, pp 523-532, 2018
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21741/9781945291838-50
The article was published as article 50 of the book Non-Conventional Materials and Technologies
References
[1] Lippiatt, B. “Selecting cost-effective green building products: BEES approach.” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 1999, 125(6), 448. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1999)125:6(448)
[2] Meadows, D. “ASTM international and sustainable development keeping pace with a new global market.” Standardization News, 2004, 32(4), 30.
[3] Pulselli, R.M. “Emergy analysis of building manufacturing, maintenance and use: Embuilding indices to evaluate housing sustainability.” Energy and Buildings, 2007, 39(5), 620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2006.10.004
[4] Webster, M. D. “The Relevance of Structural Engineers to Green Building Design.” Proc, Metropolis & Beyond, ASCE, New York, NY, 2005, 60.
[5] Kadivar. M, Rahnema.H, Ghavami.K, Faghihi. L. “Influence of nano silica and natural gum on permeability of Kah-Gel (mud- straw plaster).” 15th NOCMAT conference. Brazil, 2014, 91.
[6] Binici, H., Aksogan, O., Bodur, M. N., Akca, E., & Kapur, S. “Thermal isolation and mechanical properties of fibre reinforced mud bricks as wall materials.” Construction and Building Materials, 2007, 21(4), 901-906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2005.11.004
[7] Morton, T. “Earth Masonry – Design and Construction Guidelines, IHS BRE Press: Watford.” 2008.
[8] Brown, P.W. & Clifton, J. R “Adobe I: The Properties of Adobe. Studies in Conservation. ”, 1978, 23(4), pp. 139-146.
[9] MariaIsabel G. Beas. Traditional Architectural Renders on Earthen Surfaces, Presented to the faculties of the universityof Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of master of science, 1991.
[10] Mitchell. J. K. “Soil Improvement, (State of the Art Report),” in Proc. X. Soil Mechanics and Foundation Eng. Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 1981.
[11] Bouhicha, M., Aouissi, F., and Kenai, S. “Performance of composite soil reinforced with barley straw.” Cement and Concrete Composites, 2005, 27(5), 617-621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2004.09.013
[12] New Mexico Administrative Code. “2006 New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code.” New Mexico Administrative Code,
[13] Bell F.G. “Lime stabilization of clay minerals and soils”, Engineering Geology, 1996, Vol 42, pp 223-237. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(96)00028-2
[14] Hawley’s Condensed Chemical Dictionary, p. 581.
